Debris-carrying Lacewing Larva (Junk Bug or Aphid Lion)
Scientific Name: Chrysoperla spp.
Order & Family: Neuroptera, Family Chrysopidae
Size: 3 to 10 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Gardens, agricultural fields, orchards, and forest edges worldwide.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous generalist predator; primarily eats aphids, mealybugs, scales, and mites.
Behavior Patterns
Larvae carry bits of plant matter, lichen, or the exoskeletons of their prey on their backs for camouflage. They are highly active hunters with large sickle-shaped mandibles used to suck out the insides of prey.
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial to ecosystems and gardeners as natural biological pest control. They are harmless to humans, though they may occasionally deliver a minor, non-toxic nip if they land on skin.
Identified on: 3/14/2026