Encyclopedia of Entomology

2005 Edition

Lace Bugs (Hemiptera: Tingidae)

  • Laura T. Miller
Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48380-7_2302
How to cite

Tingids are commonly called lace bugs because the pronotum and forewings have delicate and intricate reticulations resembling lace. Lace bugs can be confused with the Piesmatidae or ash-gray lace bugs, which also have forewings that are somewhat lace-like or reticulated. However, the lack of ocelli in the Tingidae distinguishes them from the Piesmatidae. All tingids are phytophagous and generally are host specific. Some species can be very destructive to plants, some of economic importance.

The Tingidae are distributed worldwide. The family is comprised of approximately 2,000 species placed in three subfamilies. The Cantacaderinae occur mainly in the Southern Hemisphere, the Tinginae are represented throughout the tropical and temperate zones, and the Vianaidinae are a small Neotropical group. The Tinginae comprise the majority of the lace bugs within the family, including some 220 genera out of approximately 250 genera. The higher level classification is:

  • Order: Hemiptera

  • Suborder:...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Blatchley, W. S. 1926. Heteroptera or true bugs of eastern North America, with especial references to the faunas of Indiana and Florida. Nature Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana. 1116 pp.Google Scholar
  2. Drake, C. J., and N. T. Davis. 1960. The morphology, phylogeny, and higher classification of the family Tingidae, including the description of a new genus and species of the subfamily Vianaidinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Entomologica Americana 39 (new series): 1–100.Google Scholar
  3. Drake, C. J., and F. A. Ruhoff. 1965. Lacebugs of the world: a catalog (Hemiptera: Tingidae). U.S. National Museum Bulletin 243. 634 pp.Google Scholar
  4. Schaefer, C. W., and A. R. Panizzi. 2000. Heteroptera of economic importance. CRC Press Boca Raton, Florida. 828 pp.Google Scholar
  5. Schuh, R. T., and J. A. Slater. 1995. True bugs of the world &(Hemiptera: Heteroptera&): classification and natural history. Comstock Publishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. 336 pGoogle Scholar
  6. Slater, J. A., and R. M. Baranowsky. 1978. How to know the true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Pictured Key Nature Series. Wm. C. Brown Co. Publishers Dubuque, Iowa. 256 pp.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer 2004

Authors and Affiliations

  • Laura T. Miller
    • 1
  1. 1.West Virginia Department of AgricultureCharlestonUSA