Junk bug (Green lacewing larva)

Natural Habitat

Gardens, agricultural fields, and wooded areas worldwide; often found on plants.

Diet & Feeding

Voracious predators that eat aphids, mealybugs, scales, and other soft-bodied insects.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae exhibit 'shrouding' behavior, where they attach the remains of their prey, lichen, and debris to their backs using hooked bristles to camouflage from predators.

Risks & Benefits

Highly beneficial to the ecosystem as natural pest control for gardens. While they are harmless to humans, they may occasionally provide a tiny, non-venomous 'pinch' if they crawl on skin.

Identified on: 12/26/2025