Junk bug (Green lacewing larva)

Natural Habitat

Found in gardens, forests, and agricultural fields worldwide, often on leaves and stems of plants.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; they primarily eat aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, and other soft-bodied pests.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae of certain species use curved mandibles to pierce prey. They are known as 'junk bugs' because they camouflage themselves by attaching debris, lichen, or the hollowed-out husks of their prey to their backs using hooked bristles.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial to the ecosystem as natural pest control. Occasionally, they may nip humans if handled, which can cause a minor, temporary skin irritation, but they are not dangerous.

Identified on: 4/7/2026