
Community identification
Green Lacewing (Egg on stalk)
Chrysoperla spp.
- Order & Family
- Neuroptera: Chrysopidae
- Size
- Egg stalk: 5-8 mm long; Larva: 1-13 mm; Adult: 10-20 mm.
Natural Habitat
Gardens, agricultural fields, meadows, and forests where prey is abundant.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae (known as 'aphid lions') are voracious predators of aphids, mites, scale insects, and thrips; Adults typically eat pollen and nectar.
Behavior Patterns
Eggs are laid on thin silk stalks to protect them from cannibalistic siblings and other predators; Larvae are highly active hunters with curved mandibles.
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial to the ecosystem and agriculture as natural biological control agents for soft-bodied pests; Harmless to humans, though larvae may occasionally give a harmless nip.