Green Lacewings
Chrysopidae
Beneficial Insects Low Risk 12-20 mm (adults), 6-10 mm (larvae)
📖 Description
Green lacewings are among the most effective generalist predators in the garden. The larvae, called ‘aphid lions,’ are extremely voracious, consuming aphids, thrips, whitefly eggs, spider mites, mealybug crawlers, and other small insects. A single lacewing larva can eat 200+ aphids per week during its 2-3 week development. Adults feed primarily on nectar, pollen, and honeydew, though some species also prey on small insects. Their stalked eggs are distinctive and easy to identify, and releasing lacewing eggs is a popular biological control strategy for indoor and greenhouse growing.
⚠️ Symptoms to watch for
- Stalked eggs on leaf surfaces (white, on thin filaments),Brown larvae actively hunting on foliage,Reduction in aphid, thrips, and mite populations,Green adults resting on plants at night
🩹 Treatment
- No treatment needed — these are beneficial insects!,Purchase lacewing eggs or larvae for release,Provide pollen and nectar sources for adults,Use companion planting with flowering herbs
🌿 Organic treatments
- No treatment needed — these are beneficial insects!,Purchase lacewing eggs or larvae for release,Provide pollen and nectar sources for adults,Use companion planting with flowering herbs
🛡️ Prevention
- Plant diverse flowers to provide adult food sources,Include dill, coriander, and cosmos in gardens,Reduce or eliminate pesticide use,Provide overwintering habitat with ground cover and leaf litter,Maintain some pest populations to sustain lacewing prey base
🪴 Affected plants
- All plants — they are beneficial predators
🦋 Natural predators
- Various beneficial insects
🌱 Host plants
- Various plants
🔄 Lifecycle
- Females lay 100-200 eggs on stalks attached to leaves near prey.
- Eggs hatch in 3-6 days.
- Larvae feed voraciously through 3 instar stages over 2-3 weeks.
- Larvae spin spherical cocoons and pupate for 5-10 days.
- Adults emerge and live for 4-6 weeks.
- Multiple generations per year.
📅 Season
- Spring to Fall
🔎 Appearance
- Adults are delicate, bright green insects with large, transparent, heavily veined wings and golden eyes.
- Larvae are brownish with prominent mandibles, earning the nickname 'aphid lions.' Eggs are laid on fine stalks attached to leaves.
💥 Damage level
- Low
🔁 Reproduction rate
- Moderate
🗺️ Geographic regions
- North America
- Europe
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