Junk bug (Green lacewing larva)

Natural Habitat

Gardens, agricultural fields, orchards, and leaf litter where prey is abundant.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; they primarily eat aphids, mealybugs, scales, and mites. They use hollow mandibles to suck out the fluids of their prey.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae carry a 'trash packet' of dead prey bodies, plant material, and debris on their back for camouflage against predators like ants and birds. They move in a jerky motion.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial as biological control agents for gardens and farms. While they are harmless to humans, they can occasionally deliver a minor, non-venomous 'pinch' or bite if handled.

Identified on: 3/12/2026