Miridae? No. - Teleonemia scrupulosa

T. scrupulosa

You might be interested to know that T. scrupulosa has been used world-wide as a biological control agent of invasive Lantana. In fact, the first implementation of biocontrol with an insect began with T. scrupulosa on the Hawaiian islands in the early 1900'. Lantana used to be a major pest in Hawaii but biocontrol with T. scrupulosa and many other agents appears to have at least slowed down this weed's spread. To my knowledge, it is unclear how T. scrupulosa made it to the US, but it most likely arrived on potted Lantana. It has recently been collected on the coastal plain of North Carolina.

… Michael L. G. Loeb, 27 June, 2006 - 1:49pm

Thanks, Mike!

I did find a reference to that on a UF website I linked to the guide page. If I read it correctly, it also implies the bug is native to TX and FL. From my own experience, I can testify it's a highly effective control - my infested plants have not had a single flower all season, so no chance of them going to seed! Lantana is considered weedy here in FL too, although Lantana 'Gold Mound', according to a nurseryman here in Gainesville, is also the top-selling perennial plant in this area. As far as I've seen (so far), 'Gold Mound' (unlike 'Red Spread' the infested one I have) doesn't set seed - it's also not infested in my yard (yet). It would be nice if the bugs could tell the weedy ones from the desirable ones, but I fear they just haven't got to that side of the yard yet.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 3 July, 2006 - 9:48pm

Hard to tell.

The winged thing in the lower center is probably a lace bug. They tend to feed on the undersides of leaves. The remainder could be her offspring, as many lace bug females stay with their young. Not all lace bugs are "lacy," by the way:-)

… Eric R. Eaton, 6 June, 2006 - 2:55pm

Hmm ...

I still think the pale one is going to turn darker - you can faintly make out the same pattern as on the adult in the top of the picture -three lines down the front, two spots each side and a dark triangle at the back. I've never heard of unlacy lace bugs, but I'm always learning new things on this site! I'll move up to a higher taxonomic level and hope to narrow down better later, maybe.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 6 June, 2006 - 4:11pm

Update: you got it!

Lantana Lace Bug, Teleonemia scrupulosa. I looked under lace bugs in Cranshaw(1), and found this species listed as hosting on Lantana - then of course I turned to trusty Google to find pictures to confirm the ID. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, Eric!

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 6 June, 2006 - 4:54pm