Green Lacewing Larva (often called Trash Carrier, Debris Bug, or Junk Bug)
Scientific Name: Chrysopidae (specifically from genera like Chrysopa or Ceraeochrysa)
Order & Family: Order: Neuroptera, Family: Chrysopidae
Size: 2 to 10 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found on a wide variety of plants, shrubs, and trees, particularly where aphid populations are high. They can occasionally wander onto structures or fabric.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous predator. They primarily eat aphids (hence the nickname 'aphid lion'), but also feed on mealybugs, thrips, mites, whiteflies, and small caterpillars.
Behavior Patterns
The larva covers its back with debris such as the sucked-dry carcasses of its prey, mold, bark, and lichen to camouflage itself from predators like birds and ants. This 'bundle' on its back gives it the appearance of a moving piece of lint or trash.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: They are highly beneficial garden insects that serve as natural pest control. Risks: They are generally harmless to humans but can deliver a small nip or bite if handled, which can be briefly irritating.
Identified on: 3/5/2026