Chrysopidae

Green lacewings, lacewings, stinkflies, aphid lions, aphid wolves, junk bugs, trash bugs

Subfamily Guides

Chrysopinae(Typical Green Lacewings)
Nothochrysinae(Basal Green Lacewings)

, commonly known as green lacewings, is a large of neuropteran insects comprising approximately 85 and 1,300–2,000 worldwide. are delicate, often bright green insects with conspicuous golden and translucent, iridescent wings with characteristic wide costal fields in the venation. Larvae are voracious nicknamed " lions" or "trash ," known for carrying debris on their backs for camouflage while hunting soft-bodied prey. The family is economically significant as agents, with millions reared annually for agricultural pest management.

Ceraeochrysa cubana by (c) Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Arturo Santos. Used under a CC-BY license.

Chrysoperla by (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Chrysopodes by (c) Arturo Santos, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Arturo Santos. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Chrysopidae: /krɪˈsɒpɪdiː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

distinguished from other neuropterans by combination of green body coloration, golden , and wide costal field in wing venation. Distinguished from brown lacewings (Hemerobiidae) by brighter green coloration and different wing venation patterns. Larvae recognized by debris-carrying and prominent hollow ; some distinguished only by species-specific substrate-borne vibrational signals used in courtship. Chrysopa and Chrysoperla are morphologically very similar and difficult to separate without acoustic analysis or genital examination.

Images

Habitat

Found in diverse terrestrial including gardens, agricultural fields, forests, and grasslands. often attracted to lights at night. Larvae occur on vegetation where prey are present, particularly where aphids or other soft-bodied insects are abundant. Some associated with specific crops including citrus, corn, and soybeans.

Distribution

Worldwide distribution with highest diversity in tropical regions. Members of Chrysopa and Chrysoperla are very common in North America and Europe. Present in South America (Argentina, Peru), Australia, and Asia. Fossil record sparse but indicates basal radiation occurred by Jurassic period.

Seasonality

Activity patterns vary by and climate. are or . In temperate regions, most species overwinter as within cocoons; Chrysoperla carnea overwinters as newly hatched adult. Multiple per year possible depending on temperature and food availability.

Life Cycle

hatch in approximately 3–6 days depending on temperature. First-instar larvae immediately , then crawl up egg stalk to feed. Larvae pass through three instars over 1–3 weeks before spinning cocoon. Pupal period lasts 1–3 weeks. Under temperate conditions, usually overwinter as in cocoon, though some overwinter as . Females produce 100–200 eggs each, deposited at night.

Behavior

use substrate-borne vibrations for communication, particularly during courtship; -specific vibrational patterns enable mate recognition. Some species (e.g., Chrysopa) exhibit evasive in response to bat ultrasound: closing wings to reduce echolocation signature and dropping to ground. Adults of some (Chrysopa) release vile-smelling defensive secretion from paired prothoracic glands when handled, earning name "stinkflies." Larvae are trash-carriers, constructing packets of lichen, plant trichomes, wood fragments, prey remains, spider silk, or wax from prey insects for camouflage. Some larvae have been observed incorporating live mealybug nymphs into their debris packets, potentially functioning as phoretic .

Ecological Role

of soft-bodied insects and mites; important natural agents. Larvae are primary predators, attacking aphids, caterpillars, insect , , and other small arthropods. Some cannibalistic at high densities. of some species continue , while others feed primarily on pollen, nectar, and honeydew. Parasitized by specialized braconid wasps (e.g., Chrysopophthorus americanus).

Human Relevance

Widely used in biological pest control; millions reared annually and distributed as for release in agricultural and garden settings. Effective against aphids, mites, , and other crop pests. Performance variable, prompting ongoing research to improve efficacy. Gardeners can attract lacewings using companion plants in Asteraceae (Coreopsis, Cosmos, Helianthus, Taraxacum) and Apiaceae (Anethum, Angelica). Larval bites reported occasionally, with reactions ranging from minor irritation to persistent painful swelling.

Similar Taxa

Hemerobiidae (brown lacewings)Similar body plan and neuropteran wing venation, but distinguished by brown coloration, smaller size, and different larval lacking trash-carrying .
Dilaridae (pleasing lacewings)Formerly grouped with in superfamily Hemerobioidea, but now recognized as distinct; have different wing shape and larvae are morphologically distinct.
Osmylidae (osmylids)Currently recognized as closest living relatives of based on phylogenetic analysis; distinguished by more advanced larval resembling spongillaflies.

More Details

Acoustic species identification

Some cryptic pairs, such as Chrysoperla mediterranea and C. carnea, are morphologically nearly identical but possess distinctly different substrate-borne courtship vibrations, allowing species separation where fails.

Defensive chemistry

Mealybug prey produce from when attacked; ostiolar fluid contains free wax that can gum up mouthparts and potentially kill early-instar larvae. Lacewing larvae show distress reactions and mouthpart-wiping when contacting this fluid.

Taxonomic instability

The Chrysopa and Chrysoperla have undergone repeated taxonomic revision, with many transferred between them. Nonscientific literature assignments to these genera are frequently unreliable.