Debris-carrying Lacewing Larva (Junk Bug)
Scientific Name: Ceraeochrysa spp. (Family Chrysopidae)
Order & Family: Order: Neuroptera; Family: Chrysopidae
Size: 3mm to 10mm in length
Natural Habitat
Found on various plants, shrubs, and trees in gardens, agricultural fields, and forests.
Diet & Feeding
Aggressive predators of aphids, mites, scale insects, and other soft-bodied garden pests.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae use curved, hollow mandibles to suck the fluids from prey. They exhibit 'masking' behavior by attaching dead prey carcasses and organic debris to their backs for camouflage.
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial to the ecosystem as natural pest control. Occasionally, they may nip or 'bite' humans if they crawl on skin, which is harmless but can cause a minor, temporary itch.
Identified on: 6/17/2026