Chrysopidae
insect family
Also known as: green lacewing family
Quick Summary
Chrysopidae, commonly known as green lacewings, is a family of insects comprising about 2,000 species distributed nearly worldwide. These insects are recognized by their delicate, lacy wings and slender green bodies.1
Key Characteristics:
- Appearance: Adults have long antennae, greenish bodies, and golden or copper-colored eyes. They emit an unpleasant odor as a defense mechanism.1
- Life Cycle: Females lay eggs on slender stalks to protect them from predatory larvae. The larvae, often called aphidlions, are voracious predators of garden pests like aphids, using prominent sucking mouthparts to drain their prey. Some larvae camouflage themselves by carrying debris on their backs. After about two weeks of feeding, the larva spins a silk cocoon to pupate before emerging as an adult.1
- Beneficial Role: Due to their appetite for pests, green lacewing larvae are considered beneficial insects and are encouraged for biological control.1
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
