Junk bug / Debris-carrying Lacewing Larva

Natural Habitat

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

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

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.

Risks & Benefits

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.

Identified on: 1/5/2026