Debris-Carrying Lacewing Larva (Junk Bug or Trash Bug)
Scientific Name: Chrysopidae (specifically larva)
Order & Family: Order: Neuroptera, Family: Chrysopidae
Size: Typically 6 to 10 mm (0.25 to 0.4 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Gardens, fields, agricultural crops, and forests; generally found on plant foliage or stems where their prey gathers.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous predators; they feed voraciously on aphids, mealybugs, thrips, spider mites, and small caterpillars. They are often called 'aphid lions'.
Behavior Patterns
The larvae pile dead insect skins, bits of lichen, and other debris onto hooked bristles on their backs to create camouflage. This disguises them from birds and other predators while also helping them ambush prey.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: Highly beneficial for pest control as voracious predators of garden pests. Risks: Harmless to humans, though they may give a slight, harmless pinch with their mandibles if handled.
Identified on: 2/20/2026