Bug Identifier
Green Lacewing
Community identification

Green Lacewing

Chrysoperla carnea

Order & Family
Neuroptera; Chrysopidae
Size
10 to 20 mm (0.4 to 0.8 inches) wingspan
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found in gardens, landscapes, agricultural fields, and wooded areas worldwide.

Diet & Feeding

Adults primarily eat nectar, pollen, and honeydew. Larvae (known as 'aphid lions') are voracious predators of soft-bodied insects like aphids, mites, and mealybugs.

Behavior Patterns

They are primarily nocturnal and are often attracted to porch lights at night. Females lay eggs on the ends of long, thin silk stalks to prevent the first-hatching larvae from eating their siblings.

Risks & Benefits

They pose no risk to humans. They are highly beneficial to ecosystems and gardens as a natural biological control for agricultural pests, often sold commercially for pest management.