Junk bug (Green Lacewing Larva)

Gardens, agricultural fields, forests, and shrubbery across North America and Europe.

Carnivorous; feeds primarily on aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, and insect eggs.

The larva is nicknamed the 'junk bug' because it uses its curved mandibles to place debris, such as lichen or the sucked-dry carcasses of its prey, onto its back for camouflage and protection against predators like ants.

Benefits: Highly beneficial as a natural pest control agent in gardens. Risks: They may occasionally give humans a tiny, harmless pinch if they end up on the skin, but they are not venomous or dangerous.