lace bug

American

noun

any of several bugs of the family Tingidae, characterized by a lacy pattern of ridges on the head, thorax, and wings, and feeding on the leaves of oak, birch, sycamore, etc.

lace bug British

noun

a small bug of the family Tingidae, having a delicate pattern in the wing venation. They are plant feeders and include the thistle lace bugs ( Tingis cardui and T. ampliata ) and the rhododendron bug ( Stephanitis rhododendri )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lace bug

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There’s also the sycamore lace bug in Europe, which has been blamed for feasting on the elegant plane trees lining Paris’ famous Champs-Élysées.

From National Geographic • Aug. 4, 2023

Unfortunately, in 2008, the azalea lace bug moved into Washington.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2018

This insect is much more damaging and harder to deal with than the rhododendron lace bug because it has multiple generations per year.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2018

Then, the only lace bug that infested these plants was the rhododendron lace bug.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2018

Fairy lace bug, we are glad to make your acquaintance.

From The Insect Folk by Morley, Margaret Warner

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023