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Glite Dictionary
lace bug

lace bug

8.1
A small insect with a thin net pattern on its wings and body that feeds on plant leaves
  • noun
  • /leɪs bʌg/
translation icon : insecto de encaje
  • The lace bug is fascinating to observe.

Examples

  • The leaves were damaged by lace bugs feeding on their undersides.

  • Look at that lace bug on the rose bush!

  • A single lace bug can cause noticeable stippling on plant leaves.

  • Gardeners often watch for lace bug infestations on azaleas and other shrubs.

  • The gardener noticed that the lace bug was damaging the leaves of the rose bushes.

  • After inspecting the plants, she found several lace bugs hiding among the flowers.

  • The lace bug is known for its intricate wing patterns that resemble delicate lace.

Synonyms

Tingidae
vslace bug
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small bugs with lace-like wings that feed on plants

is the common everyday name used for the small plant insect

Surface Forms

lace bug singular
lace bugs plural

Morphology

lace + bug

The compound is directly compositional: 'lace' describes a lacy appearance or pattern and 'bug' denotes a small insect, so a learner who knows both words can infer an insect with a lace-like network on its body or wings. Adjective-noun compounding of this sort is common and cross-linguistically transparent, making the meaning immediately accessible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Lace bug is named for the pattern of fine lines on its body and wings that look like lace, so the phrase simply refers to a 'small bug' with a lacy look.