Plane Lace Bug

Plane lace bugs are similar to our other priority pest, Oak lace bug, and are native to North America. They have been accidentally introduced to mainland Europe and were first discovered in the UK in 2006 when a small population was found at a nursery in Bedfordshire, thought to have arrived on plant imports from Europe. Eradication was successful for this outbreak and no population has been found in the area since. However, in August 2024 Plane lace bug was discovered in the London area. 

Lace bugs are sap feeders, feeding on the underside of leaves. Signs to look out for include small, yellow spots on leaves, premature leaf loss and black spots of frass on the underside of leaves. The adults translucent wing cases are distinctive, although they can be difficult to distinguish from other lookalikes due to their small size, up to 4mm long. 

For more information on Plane lacebug, see the resources below.