Invertebrates
Lacewing
Chrysopidae · also called green lacewing
An adult lacewing rests on a leaf, wings so delicate and finely veined they look like they might tear if the wind picks up. Nearby, one of its own larvae moves through an aphid colony with a very different reputation entirely, earning the nickname aphid lion one meal at a time.
Overview
Lacewings, family Chrysopidae, are delicate-winged insects found across grassland, forest, and garden habitat worldwide. Their fragile adult appearance contrasts sharply with the genuinely voracious predatory larvae that have made the group a favourite among gardeners for natural pest control.
Two very different life stages
Where the adult lacewing drifts gently and often feeds on nectar, its larva is an entirely different creature, an aggressive aphid predator that sometimes wears the remains of its victims as a disguise while hunting.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable habitat worldwide, often actively encouraged as a beneficial garden insect.
Lacewing: common questions
Why are lacewing larvae called aphid lions?
Lacewing larvae are commonly nicknamed aphid lions due to their voracious appetite for aphids, with a single larva capable of consuming a substantial number of aphids over the course of its larval development, a predatory reputation that has made lacewings popular among gardeners looking for natural pest control.
Why do some lacewing larvae pile debris onto their backs?
Some lacewing larvae camouflage themselves by piling debris, plant material, or the drained remains of previous prey onto their own backs, a disguise that can help hide them from both predators and the ants that sometimes aggressively guard aphid colonies from other predatory insects.
Are adult lacewings also predators like their larvae?
Not always; while lacewing larvae are voracious predators of aphids and other small insects, adults of many lacewing species instead feed on nectar, pollen, or honeydew rather than continuing to hunt live prey, a notable dietary shift between the larval and adult life stages.
Why are lacewings considered good for gardens?
Because lacewing larvae consume large numbers of aphids and other plant pests, the group is valued by gardeners and farmers as a natural form of pest control, and some lacewing species are even commercially reared and released specifically to help manage aphid populations without relying on chemical pesticides.