Debris-carrying Lacewing Larva / Trash bug

Scientific Name: Family Chrysopidae

Order & Family: Order Neuroptera, Family Chrysopidae

Size: 3mm to 10mm (approximately 1/8 to 3/8 inch) including debris

Found on plants, garden foliage, and occasionally walls or windows near gardens

Aphids, mites, scale insects, and other soft-bodied garden pests

Larvae pile the husks of their prey and organic debris onto their backs for camouflage and protection from predators

Highly beneficial to ecosystems as natural pest control; harmless to humans but may occasionally give a tiny, non-venomous defensive nip

Identified on: 1/13/2026