Junk Bug (Lacewing Larva)
Scientific Name: Chrysopidae (family)
Order & Family: Neuroptera / Chrysopidae
Size: Typically 1/4 to 1/2 inch long (excluding the debris pile)
Natural Habitat
Gardens, forests, and fields, typically found on foliage where aphids are present.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous predator; primarily feeds on aphids, mites, scale insects, whiteflies, and other small soft-bodied pests.
Behavior Patterns
The larva builds a camouflage shield on its back using the dried carcasses of its prey, lichen, and other debris to hide from predators and ambush prey without detection.
Risks & Benefits
Generally beneficial to gardens and ecosystems as a voracious predator of aphids (giving them the nickname 'aphid lion'); harmless to humans.
Identified on: 2/23/2026