Bug Identifier
Junk bug (Green Lacewing Larva)
Community identification

Junk bug (Green Lacewing Larva)

Chrysoperla spp.

Order & Family
Neuroptera: Chrysopidae
Size
1 mm to 10 mm in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Gardens, agricultural fields, and wooded areas worldwide; often found on plants with high aphid populations.

Diet & Feeding

Voracious predators that primarily eat aphids, but also consume mites, scale insects, thrips, and caterpillar eggs.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are known as 'junk bugs' because they camouflaging themselves by attaching the carcasses of their prey and other debris (like moss or lichen) to hooked hairs on their backs to hide from predators.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial to the ecosystem and agriculture as a natural form of pest control. They are harmless to humans, though they may occasionally deliver a minor, non-venomous pinch if handled.