The Common Green Lacewing: A Comprehensive Guide

The Common Green Lacewing is a tiny, delicate insect that's often overlooked, but it's actually a fascinating creature. They have a slender body with a pale green color and a distinctive lace-like pattern on their wings.

These insects are typically found in gardens and meadows, where they feed on aphids, whiteflies, and other small insects. They're a gardener's best friend, as they help keep pest populations under control.

The Common Green Lacewing is a species of Chrysopidae, a family of insects that are known for their long, thread-like antennae.

The Common Green Lacewing is a pretty insect, about 10 mm long, with a pale lime green color during the summer. It has a distinctive lemon-yellow stripe down the middle of its body.

These insects are important predators of aphids, and the adults are not always predacious, often feeding on pollen and nectar instead. They can be found on flowers, and in the southeast, they're known to show up to porch lights at night year-round.

One of the most distinctive features of the Common Green Lacewing is that it over-winters as an adult insect, entering buildings to hibernate and turning yellowish-brown. This is often accompanied by red spots on the abdomen.

The larvae of the Common Green Lacewing are always predacious, earning them the nickname "aphid lions."

Adult green lacewings typically live for 1-3 months, depending on temperature, humidity, and food quality.

Females can lay hundreds of eggs, but fecundity depends on mating activity and food quality. They usually lay eggs singly at the top of a thin "hair-like" support, which is about 3/8 inch in length.

The incubation period of lacewing eggs varies depending on the species and temperature. For some Chrysoperla species, it can take 2-3 days at 95ºF (35ºC), 4 days at 77ºF (25ºC), or 6-7 days at 68ºF (20ºC).

Lacewing larvae develop through three instars and can devour 200 or more aphids per week during their developmental period.

Each larva is capable of consuming a large number of prey, including aphids and pest eggs, and can even turn cannibal when food is scarce.

Here's a breakdown of the life stages of the green lacewing:

After 2-3 weeks, larvae will pupate in a spherical silken cocoon, usually attached to vegetation. The pre-pupal and pupal stages last about 5-8 days, and adult emergence occurs after 1-2 weeks depending on temperature, humidity, and food quality.

Common green lacewings are a natural predator of various pest insects, including aphids, caterpillars, thrips, mealybugs, and other soft-bodied insects that are harmful to plants. They are widely used in agriculture as a biological control agent to manage pest populations.

The larvae of green lacewings are particularly effective predators, feeding on a wide variety of soft-bodied arthropods, including many aphid species, caterpillars, insect eggs, spiders, and mites. In fact, they have been reported to feed on seventy different prey species in five insect orders.

To use green lacewings for pest control, the dosage and release strategy depend on climate, crop, and pest density. Typically, 2-20 lacewings per m2/release are introduced, and releases are made in infested areas only and repeated at weekly intervals until control is achieved.

Here's a summary of the pests that green lacewings target:

Green lacewings have also been reported to have a degree of resistance to a number of insecticides, which can be favorable to maintain predator populations even when chemical treatment is needed.

Chrysoperla carnea larvae are voracious predators that feed on a wide range of prey species, including aphids, red spider mites, thrips, whitefly, and small moths.

They are most active at night, sheltering under the plant or the rim of the pot during daylight hours, and can be difficult to observe due to their small size and leaf-hair-covered surroundings.

On average, a larva will consume 300-400 aphids of various sizes during its development, although the actual quantity depends on prey species and temperature.

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If prey is scarce, the larvae can resort to cannibalism, with the older larvae eating the younger.

Adult lacewings, on the other hand, feed exclusively on pollen, nectar, and honeydew, and most will fly out of the greenhouse.

Here's a breakdown of the feeding behavior of Chrysoperla carnea larvae:

Keep in mind that these numbers are averages and can vary depending on the specific circumstances.

Biological control is a natural and effective way to manage pest populations, and one of the most valuable tools in this arsenal is the green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea.

These beneficial insects are widely used in agriculture to control a variety of pests, including aphids, thrips, mealybugs, and caterpillars.

Green lacewings are particularly effective at controlling aphids, which are a major pest in many crops.

In fact, the larvae of Chrysoperla carnea are known to feed on over 70 different prey species, including aphids, caterpillars, and other soft-bodied insects.

Here are some of the pests that green lacewings are known to control:

The efficiency of green lacewings in controlling pests can be affected by many factors, including pest type, distribution of the pest, weather, crop, number of predators released, stage of predator released, and the predator/prey ratio.

To use green lacewings effectively, it's essential to release them at the right time and in the right place. The dosage of Chrysopa depends on climate, crop, and pest density, and should be adjusted to the particular situation.

The ideal dosage for Chrysopa is typically between 2-20 per m2/release, and releases should be made in infested areas only and repeated at weekly intervals until control is achieved.

In addition to their effectiveness, green lacewings also have the advantage of being able to thrive in a wide temperature range, including low temperatures (average > 12°C/54°F).

They are most effective at 20-28°C (68-82°F), making them a valuable tool for pest management in many different environments.

Overall, green lacewings are a powerful and natural tool for controlling pest populations, and are an essential part of any integrated pest management (IPM) strategy.

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The Common Green Lacewing thrives in a wide temperature range, making it effective even in cooler climates with average temperatures above 12°C (54°F). It's most productive at temperatures between 20-28°C (68-82°F).

Chrysoperla carnea and its species are associated with a diverse range of crops, including cotton, soybean, potato, and broccoli. They're also found on various tree crops and ornamental plants.

In its natural habitat, the Common Green Lacewing lives amongst tall grasses, herbaceous plants, trees, and bushes. It's commonly seen in gardens, fields, and hedges, and at the woodland edge.

The Common Green Lacewing thrives in areas with tall grasses, herbaceous plants, trees, and bushes. You can often spot them in gardens, fields, and hedges, and at the edge of woodland.

Their love for gardens and fields makes them a common sight in these areas.

Chrysoperla carnea is effective in a wide temperature range, including low temperatures, as long as the average temperature is above 12°C (54°F).

It's most effective at temperatures between 20-28°C (68-82°F). This makes it a great option for growers in temperate climates.

To use Chrysoperla carnea effectively, you'll need to adjust the dosage based on climate, crop, and pest density. This means the number of individuals you release will vary depending on your specific situation.

Typical introduction rates range from 2-20 individuals per square meter, and releases should be made in infested areas only.

In the agroecosystem, Chrysoperla spp. have been found associated with a wide variety of crops, including 19 field crops and 21 tree crops.

These beneficial insects have been released in North America to help control pests on many crops, such as cotton, soybean, and potato.

One of the primary reasons for their success is their ability to prey on a range of pests, including aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites.

Their diet also includes bollworms, whiteflies, and small lepidopteran larvae, making them a valuable asset in integrated pest management.

Chrysoperla spp. have been found on numerous forestry and horticultural plants, showcasing their adaptability to different environments.

Their presence on ornamental plants like apple, pears, and grapes highlights their importance in maintaining balanced ecosystems.

In addition to these crops, they have also been associated with sugar beets and various other crops, demonstrating their versatility as beneficial insects.

Green lacewings are commonly found throughout North America, and their popularity is on the rise as growers seek alternatives to insecticides for managing insect pests.

Their larvae, also known as "aphid lions", are voracious predators of soft-bodied arthropods, including insects, insect eggs, spiders, and mites.

In fact, green lacewing larvae are particularly active against aphid pests and are an essential component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs.

Adult green lacewings, on the other hand, are not carnivorous and feed primarily on honeydew, pollen, and nectar from flowers.

As generalists, green lacewings require proper use to have a positive effect within IPM programs.