Spear Thistle Lacebug - Tingis cardui

Length 3-4 mm. Tingis species are grey-brown lacebugs which are covered in white powdery deposits made of wax. The 4th antennal segment is clearly broader than 3rd and there are three frontal processes (small projections arising from the front of the head between the antennae). They are always fully-winged. It is distinguished by the black-tipped antennae and tibiae and by the 2-3 rows of meshes at the edge of the pronotum and along the margins of the forewings. The two projections arising just behind the eyes (occipital processes) are very short, and do not extend beyond the frontal processes.

Tingis ampliata is very similar and best distinguished by noting the host plant (Creeping Thistle).

Can be identified by external structure at 5-10X magnification.

Anywhere that Spear Thistle the host plant grows.

Adult: All year round

Overwinters as an adult and lays eggs on the foodplant Spear Thistle in the spring and early summer. Larvae June-September; the new adult generation is complete from July onwards.

Fairly common throughout most of Britain

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.