Junk bug (Green lacewing larva)

Natural Habitat

Gardens, agricultural fields, orchards, and wooded areas worldwide.

Diet & Feeding

Voracious predators of soft-bodied insects like aphids, mites, scale, and mealybugs; often called "aphid lions."

Behavior Patterns

Larvae exhibit camouflaging behavior by piling empty carcasses of prey and environmental debris onto hooked bristles (scolus) on their backs to hide from predators like ants and birds.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial to ecosystems and agriculture as a natural form of pest control. They are harmless to humans, though large larvae may give a minor, non-venomous defensive nip if handled.

Identified on: 12/30/2025