Green Lacewing
Chrysoperla carnea
📖 Description
Green lacewings are among the most valuable beneficial insects in the garden, often called ‘aphid lions’ because of the voracious appetite of their larvae. Each lacewing larva can consume 200-300 aphids during its 2-3 week development, along with mealybugs, thrips, whitefly nymphs, spider mites, and insect eggs. The adults feed primarily on nectar, pollen, and honeydew, making them important pollinators as well. Their distinctive stalked eggs prevent newly hatched larvae from eating each other. Commercially available for release in gardens and greenhouses, green lacewings are a cornerstone of biological pest control programs worldwide. Their adaptability to various climates and wide prey range make them effective in nearly any growing situation.
⚠️ Symptoms to watch for
- Stalked eggs visible on leaf surfaces and stems,Brown larval 'aphid lions' feeding in pest colonies,Declining aphid, mealybug, and thrips populations,Delicate green adults attracted to lights at night,Reduced pest pressure without insecticide application
🩹 Treatment
- No treatment needed — these are beneficial insects,Purchase and release lacewing eggs or larvae for targeted pest control (organic),Plant dill, coriander, yarrow, and cosmos to attract adults,Provide shallow water sources for adult lacewings,Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that kill all life stages
🌿 Organic treatments
- No treatment needed — these are beneficial insects,Purchase and release lacewing eggs or larvae for targeted pest control,Plant dill, coriander, yarrow, and cosmos to attract adults,Provide shallow water sources for adult lacewings,Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that kill all life stages
🛡️ Prevention
- Plant diverse flowering species to provide nectar for adults,Include dill, fennel, coriander, alyssum, and yarrow in garden beds,Reduce or eliminate broad-spectrum insecticide applications,Tolerate minor pest populations to sustain lacewing reproduction,Provide overwintering habitat with perennial plantings and mulch,Use wheast or artificial food sprays to attract and retain adults
🪴 Affected plants
- All garden plants benefit — larvae prey on many soft-bodied pests
🦋 Natural predators
- Birds,Spiders,Bats
🌱 Host plants
- Various plants with pest colonies
🔄 Lifecycle
- Females lay 100-200 eggs on fine stalks on leaves and stems.
- Eggs hatch in 3-6 days.
- Larvae feed voraciously for 2-3 weeks through 3 instars, each consuming 200-300 prey.
- Mature larvae spin spherical white cocoons on leaves or in sheltered areas.
- Pupation takes 5-10 days.
- Adults live 4-6 weeks, feeding on nectar and pollen.
- Multiple generations per year, with 3-4 common in warm climates.
- Overwinter as pupae or prepupae in cocoons.
📅 Season
- Spring to Fall (most active in warm weather)
🔎 Appearance
- Adults are delicate, bright green insects with large, transparent, heavily veined wings held tent-like over the body.
- They have golden or copper-colored eyes and long, slender antennae.
- Larvae are spindle-shaped, mottled brown with prominent sickle-shaped mandibles, sometimes carrying debris on their backs for camouflage.
- Eggs are laid on characteristic fine stalks.
💥 Damage level
- Low
🔁 Reproduction rate
- Moderate
🗺️ Geographic regions
- North America
- Europe
- Asia
- Africa
- Australia
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