A Lace Bug Last Observed in 1917 Is Rediscovered at Botanic Gardens

Last known sample of the leaf-eating bug was collected by an American entomologist

- Angelica Ang

A tiny species of lace bug has been rediscovered at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, after last being seen here in 1917.

It was uncovered in September 2024 by nature enthusiasts Yap Ee Hean and Rene Ong. They chanced upon the minuscule Stephanitis (Menodora) kardia bugs — which are usually no larger than 3mm in length — under the leaves of the native Tampines tree.

There are more than 2,500 species of lace bugs, which are named after their flat, lace-like forewings.

The duo's discovery of about a dozen adults and nymphs was documented on Jan 25 in Nature in Singapore, a scientific journal by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) that records biodiversity sightings in the Republic.

According to Mr Yap, a 28-year-old lab worker, these findings are "quite significant", as the last known sample of the leaf-eating bug was collected in 1917 by American entomologist and botanist Charles Fuller Baker.