Brown lacewings
- Pronunciation
- /BROWN LAY-swingz/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Singular
- brown lacewing
- Plural
- brown lacewings
Definition
A of small, delicate neuropteran insects () characterized by brownish or grayish bodies, reduced wing venation compared to , and larvae that are active of , mites, and other small . are typically and less commonly encountered than their green counterparts, though they occupy similar including forests, orchards, and agricultural fields.
Etymology
From the brown or dull coloration of and the net-veined (lace-like) wings typical of .
Example
Sympherobius barberi and Hemerobius pacificus are common brown lacewings in western North America, where their larvae contribute to of pest mites in vineyards and orchards.
Synonyms
Related Terms
- Green lacewings
- Neuroptera
- Lacewings
- aphid lions
- Biological control
- predatory larvae
Usage Notes
Distinguished from () by generally smaller size, less conspicuous coloration, and more complex wing venation with numerous crossveins. The is sometimes called 'hemerobiids' in technical literature. Larvae are morphologically similar to chrysopid larvae but often have distinct -capsule markings and carry less debris for camouflage.