Thistle Lace Bug vs Bed Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Thistle Lace Bug Bed Bug
Scientific Name Tingis cardui Cimex lectularius
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Tingidae Cimicidae
Size 3-4 mm 4-7 mm
Habitat Farmland Underground
Diet Herbivores Blood Feeders
Regions Europe Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Thistle Lace Bug

A small, beautifully structured lace bug found on creeping thistle. Wings have an intricate latticed pattern. Causes yellowing and stippling of thistle leaves.

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Did You Know?

The extraordinary wing structure is so delicate and ornate that it inspired Victorian microscopists.

Bed Bug

Obligate blood-feeding parasites of humans. Can survive up to a year without feeding. Have made a dramatic worldwide resurgence due to pesticide resistance and increased travel.

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Did You Know?

Bed bugs can survive without a blood meal for over a year and can withstand temperatures from near-freezing to 50°C, making them extraordinarily difficult to eliminate.