Community identification
Undetermined; potentially a Scale Insect or Lacewing Larva (Trash Bug)
Coccoidea (Scale) or Chrysopidae (Lacewing)
- Order & Family
- Order: Hemiptera or Neuroptera; Family: Various
- Size
- 1mm to 5mm (approximately 0.04 to 0.20 inches)
Natural Habitat
Found on the undersides of leaves, stems of plants, and occasionally transported indoors on clothing or pets.
Diet & Feeding
Scale insects feed on plant sap; Lacewing larvae are predatory and eat aphids and other small pests.
Behavior Patterns
Scale insects are often immobile and covered in a waxy protective layer. Lacewing larvae (trash bugs) carry debris or the carcasses of their prey on their backs for camouflage.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans. Scale insects are garden pests that can damage plants, while Lacewing larvae are highly beneficial for natural pest control in gardens.