Junk bug / Debris-carrying Lacewing Larva

Gardens, agricultural fields, forests, and residential areas near vegetation.

Carnivorous; feeds primarily on aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, and other small soft-bodied insects.

Larvae carry a pile of debris, including the husks of their dead prey and plant matter, on their backs for camouflage and protection from predators. They are aggressive hunters with pincer-like mandibles.

Extremely beneficial to ecosystems and gardens as natural pest control. They are harmless to humans, though they may occasionally nip skin if handled, which causes minor, temporary irritation.