Green Lacewing
Scientific Name: Chrysoperla carnea (likely, based on common appearance of green lacewings)
Order & Family: Order: Neuroptera, Family: Chrysopidae
Size: Adults: 1.2 to 2 cm (0.5 to 0.8 inches) in length, with a wingspan of 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 inches); Larvae: up to 1 cm (0.4 inches) in length
Natural Habitat
Gardens, agricultural fields, meadows, forests, and other vegetated areas
Diet & Feeding
Adults: Nectar, pollen, and honeydew. Some species may also feed on small soft-bodied insects. Larvae: Voracious predators, feeding on aphids, mites, scale insects, thrips, and other small soft-bodied arthropods and their eggs.
Behavior Patterns
Adults are nocturnal and often attracted to lights. They lay eggs, usually on stalks, near colonies of prey insects. Larvae are camouflaged, sometimes covering themselves with debris or the remains of their prey, and actively hunt. They undergo complete metamorphosis.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: Considered highly beneficial insects in agriculture and gardening as their larvae are crucial biological control agents against common pests. They reduce the need for chemical pesticides. Risks: No known risks to humans; they do not bite or sting.
Identified on: 11/27/2025