Junk bug (Green lacewing larva)

Natural Habitat

Gardens, agricultural fields, and wooded areas with dense vegetation.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; they primarily eat aphids, mites, scale insects, and other soft-bodied garden pests.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are known for camouflaging themselves by attaching debris, including the carcasses of their prey, to their backs using hooked bristles.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial to the ecosystem as biological pest control; they pose no medical risk to humans, though they may occasionally nip skin if handled.

Identified on: 5/18/2026