Bug Identifier
Junk bug (Green lacewing larva)
Community identification

Junk bug (Green lacewing larva)

Chrysoperla spp.

Order & Family
Neuroptera: Chrysopidae
Size
3mm to 10mm (excluding the debris pile carried on their backs).
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.