Indian Green Lacewing
Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi
📖 Description
Indian Green Lacewing (Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi) is one of the most important generalist predators in Indian agriculture, mass-reared and released for biocontrol of aphids, whiteflies, thrips, mites, mealybugs and small caterpillars on cotton, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and fruit crops. The larva (‘aphid lion’) is the predatory stage — a single larva can consume 200-500 aphids during its 10-15 day development. Adults feed only on nectar and pollen, so maintaining flowering plants in field margins is essential to support adult survival and reproduction. The species is native to the Indian subcontinent and is mass-reared by state biocontrol labs and ICAR institutions. IPM programs across India have demonstrated that consistent lacewing releases, combined with Trichogramma and reduced insecticide use, provide effective pest control at lower cost and environmental impact. Conservation of native lacewing populations through flowering border crops and reduced insecticide use is the cornerstone of sustainable biocontrol.
⚠️ Symptoms to watch for
- No damage to crops (beneficial). Effective release reduces aphid, whitefly, mite and small caterpillar populations 50-90%. Provides excellent control of cotton aphid, cowpea aphid, citrus blackfly, cabbage aphid, brinjal lacebug, chilli thrips.
🩹 Treatment
- No treatment needed — this is a beneficial predator. For field release: purchase lacewing eggs or larvae from biocontrol labs, release @ 5000-10000 larvae/ha at pest initiation, repeat releases at 10-15 day intervals. Conserve native populations by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides.
🌿 Organic treatments
- Lacewing is itself organic — release 1st or 2nd instar larvae @ 5000-10000/ha at pest initiation, repeat at 10-15 day intervals based on pest pressure. Combine with NSKE, neem oil, Bt for synergistic effect. Provide nectar sources (fennel, coriander, buckwheat) to support adults.
🧪 Chemical treatments
- Generally avoided — most chemical insecticides are toxic to lacewing larvae and adults. If pest pressure exceeds biocontrol capacity, use selective insecticides (Bt, NPV, Spinosad, Indoxacarb, Pymetrozine) that have lower impact on lacewing. Avoid organophosphates, pyrethroids and neonicotinoids during release period.
🛡️ Prevention
- Conserve native lacewing populations by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides, maintain field margins with flowering plants (fennel, coriander, mustard, buckwheat, marigold) to provide nectar and pollen for adults, release augmented larvae at 10-15 day intervals during pest season, provide alternative prey (mites, aphids) to sustain larvae during low-pest periods
🪴 Affected plants
- Targets prey on: cotton, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, cereals — attacks aphids, whiteflies, thrips, mites, mealybugs, leafhoppers, small caterpillars, insect eggs
🦋 Natural predators
- Predatory bugs, ants, spiders may attack larvae and eggs; otherwise lacewing has few natural enemies
🌱 Host plants
- Any crop with prey insects — predator has extremely wide prey range covering 80+ pest species
🔄 Lifecycle
- Female lays 200-800 eggs on silken stalks (one egg per stalk).
- Eggs hatch in 3-5 days.
- Larvae feed for 10-15 days through 3 instars.
- Pupation in silken cocoon, lasting 7-12 days.
- Adult lifespan 30-60 days.
- Total life cycle 25-35 days; 6-8 generations per year.
📅 Season
- Year-round in tropical conditions, peaks during warm humid months (Mar-Nov)
🔎 Appearance
- Adult is a slender, pale green insect with large translucent green-veined wings held tent-like over body, golden eyes, and long antennae.
- Larva ('aphid lion') is spindle-shaped, greyish-brown with sickle-shaped mandibles and white body stripes; carries debris and prey remains on its back.
- Eggs are pale green, oval, laid on long silken stalks.
💥 Damage level
- Beneficial
🔁 Reproduction rate
- Rapid
🗺️ Geographic regions
- Indian Subcontinent
- South Asia
- Middle East
- Africa
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