Green-lacewing
Guides
Abachrysa eureka
Eureka Green Lacewing
Abachrysa eureka is a species of green lacewing and the sole member of the genus Abachrysa. It belongs to the family Chrysopidae, a group of predatory insects valued for their role in biological control. The species was originally described by Nathan Banks in 1931 under the name Chrysopa eureka before being transferred to the monotypic genus Abachrysa.
Apertochrysa
Apertochrysa is a genus of green lacewings in the family Chrysopidae, comprising 183 described species. The genus has undergone substantial taxonomic revision, having been previously classified under the names Navasius, Dichochrysa, and Pseudomallada before being synonymized under Apertochrysa in 2021. It is a subcosmopolitan genus with the majority of species distributed in the Palearctic region, particularly Asia and Africa. Species in this genus are predators of soft-bodied insects and some exhibit debris-carrying behavior as larvae.
Apertochrysa sierra
Apertochrysa sierra is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae. The species is known from the western United States and Baja California, Mexico. As a member of the Chrysopidae, it belongs to a family of predatory insects commonly recognized by their delicate, net-veined wings and often green coloration. Available records for this species are limited, with few documented observations.
Ceraeochrysa
trash-carrier lacewings, green lacewings
Ceraeochrysa is a genus of green lacewings in the family Chrysopidae, established by Adams in 1982 based on distinct genitalia structure. It is the second largest genus in Chrysopidae with 61 species distributed from southeastern Canada to Argentina, with highest diversity in the Neotropics. Larvae are known as 'trash carriers' that construct dorsal packets of debris for camouflage, including insect wax, lichen, and plant material. The genus contains important biological control agents that prey on mealybugs, aphids, mites, thrips, and lepidopteran eggs.
Ceraeochrysa cincta
Ceraeochrysa cincta is a green lacewing species in the family Chrysopidae, distributed across the Americas from North America through the Caribbean to South America. Laboratory studies demonstrate its potential as a biological control agent, with larvae showing instar-specific predatory preferences on prey eggs. Populations in southeast Brazilian agroecosystems exhibit high genetic diversity with broad gene flow across different crop systems. The species produces non-pedunculated infertile eggs in later generations under laboratory conditions, a trait relevant to mass rearing programs.
Ceraeochrysa smithi
Smith's Green Lacewing
Ceraeochrysa smithi is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae. It is found across the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the genus Ceraeochrysa, it belongs to a group known for larvae that construct dorsal packets of debris for camouflage. The species was first described by Navás in 1914.
Ceraeochrysa valida
Ceraeochrysa valida is a green lacewing species in the family Chrysopidae. Like other Ceraeochrysa species, its larvae are predatory and construct dorsal packets of debris for camouflage. The species has been documented as a predator of Diaphorina citri nymphs, the Asian citrus psyllid, a significant agricultural pest. Adults are likely green lacewings with delicate, net-veined wings typical of the family.
Chrysopa chi
X-marked Green Lacewing
Chrysopa chi is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, first described by Fitch in 1855. It is found in North America, with observations recorded from Vermont and other regions of the United States. As a member of the green lacewings, it belongs to a group of predatory insects valued for their role in biological control.
Chrysopa coloradensis
Colorado green lacewing
Chrysopa coloradensis is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, described by Nathan Banks in 1895. It occurs in North America. As with other members of the genus Chrysopa, adults are predatory and feed on soft-bodied insects and other small arthropods. The larvae are known as "aphid lions" for their voracious consumption of aphids and other pests.
Chrysopa excepta
Chrysopa excepta is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, described by Banks in 1911. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are predatory and commonly known as 'aphid lions' due to their voracious consumption of soft-bodied insects. Adults are recognized for their delicate appearance with long antennae and translucent, veined wings. The species is recorded from North America.
Chrysopa nigricornis
Black-horned Green Lacewing
Chrysopa nigricornis, commonly known as the Black-horned Green Lacewing, is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae. It is distributed across Central America and North America. The species exhibits a facultative larval diapause during the third instar within its cocoon, induced by short-day photoperiods acting on the first three free-living larval stages. As both larvae and adults, it is predatory, feeding on soft-bodied insects such as aphids.
Chrysopa slossonae
Slosson's Green Lacewing
Chrysopa slossonae is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, described by Nathan Banks in 1924. The species is named in honor of entomologist Annie Trumbull Slosson. Like other Chrysopa species, it is a predatory insect with adults that feed on pollen, nectar, and honeydew, while larvae are voracious predators of soft-bodied insects. It is native to North America.
Chrysoperla
Common Green Lacewings
Chrysoperla is a genus of green lacewings in the family Chrysopidae, tribe Chrysopini, containing approximately 67 described species with a cosmopolitan distribution. Adults are characterized by a pale yellowish stripe down the middle of the body and delicate, transparent wings. The genus is notable for its use in biological pest control, as larvae are predatory and feed on aphids, mites, and other soft-bodied insects. Species identification is complicated by morphological similarity; many species are distinguished primarily by male genitalia features and species-specific vibrational courtship songs rather than external appearance.
Chrysoperla comanche
Comanche Green Lacewing
Chrysoperla comanche is a green lacewing species native to northern Mexico and the southern United States, with records extending to Canada, Chile, and Hawaii. It has been evaluated for commercial insectary production due to its non-diapausing behavior in California's San Joaquin Valley, where adults remain green and continue egg deposition through winter months. The species is a generalist predator of soft-bodied arthropods, with documented prey including aphids, leafhoppers, psyllids, whiteflies, thrips, and cochineal insects. It has shown particular promise for biological control in vineyard ecosystems, where it was the most commonly encountered lacewing species in post-release surveys. Development occurs optimally around 29.7°C, with lower temperature threshold near 10°C.
Chrysoperla downesi
Chrysoperla downesi is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, first described by Smith in 1932. Like other members of the genus Chrysoperla, it is a predatory insect whose larvae feed on soft-bodied arthropod pests. The species is part of the taxonomically complex Chrysoperla carnea-group, in which species are often difficult to distinguish by morphology alone and may require acoustic or molecular methods for identification. It is native to North America and has been documented in museum collections.
Chrysoperla externa
green lacewing
Chrysoperla externa is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, native to the Americas. Like other members of the genus Chrysoperla, its larvae are predatory on soft-bodied insects, particularly aphids, making it valuable for biological pest control. The species is part of the taxonomically challenging Chrysoperla carnea-group, in which species are often difficult to distinguish morphologically and are instead identified by their species-specific vibrational songs. It has been documented across much of South America and in parts of North America including Hawaii.
Chrysoperla harrisii
Harris's Green Lacewing
Chrysoperla harrisii is a green lacewing species in the family Chrysopidae, native to North America. Adults are predatory and feed on soft-bodied insects and honeydew. The species belongs to the Chrysoperla carnea-group, a complex of morphologically similar species that are difficult to distinguish without specialized techniques such as vibrational song analysis. Larvae are aggressive predators of aphids, mites, and other small arthropods, making this species valuable for biological pest control.
Chrysoperla rufilabris
Red-lipped Green Lacewing
Chrysoperla rufilabris, the red-lipped green lacewing, is a predatory insect in the family Chrysopidae native to eastern North America. Larvae are voracious predators of soft-bodied insects, particularly aphids, and are widely used as biological control agents in agricultural and ornamental systems. Adults are primarily nocturnal and are commonly attracted to artificial lights. The species has been extensively studied for its potential in integrated pest management, with research demonstrating its effectiveness against diverse prey including aphids, scale insects, and lepidopteran eggs.
Chrysopini
green lacewings
Chrysopini is a tribe of green lacewings within the family Chrysopidae, comprising approximately 17-32 genera and 300-926 described species. Members are recognized by their delicate, net-veined wings and often green or yellow-green bodies. The tribe represents one of the most species-rich and commonly encountered groups of lacewings in temperate and tropical regions worldwide.
Chrysopodes collaris
Chrysopodes collaris is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae. It occurs across the Americas from North America through the Caribbean to South America. As a member of the Chrysopodes genus, it belongs to a group of lacewings distinguished by specific morphological characteristics within the family.
Eremochrysa minora
Eremochrysa minora is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, first described by Banks in 1935. It was originally placed in the genus Chrysopiella but is now classified under Eremochrysa. The species is known from North America. Like other green lacewings, it belongs to a group of predatory insects valued for their role in biological control.
Eremochrysa pallida
Eremochrysa pallida is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, first described by Banks in 1911. It is native to the western United States. Like other members of its family, it is a predatory insect, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. The species has been historically classified under the genus Chrysopiella before its current placement in Eremochrysa.
Leucochrysa americana
American Lacewing
Leucochrysa americana is a green lacewing species in the family Chrysopidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1897. The genus Leucochrysa is distinguished from other chrysopids by its white markings rather than the red or yellow markings common in related genera. Larvae in this genus are known for carrying debris and other materials on their backs as camouflage, a behavior that has been documented in the related species Leucochrysa pavida. The species occurs in North and Middle America.
Leucochrysa floridana
Florida Lacewing
Leucochrysa floridana is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae. The genus Leucochrysa belongs to the subgenus Nodita, a group characterized by distinctive morphological features. Adults are predatory insects commonly found in various habitats across the southeastern United States, Caribbean, and parts of Central America. Larvae of related species in this genus are known for carrying debris on their backs as camouflage.
Leucochrysa insularis
green lacewing
Leucochrysa insularis is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae. The species is distributed across the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and North America. It belongs to a family commonly known for their delicate appearance and predatory habits as both larvae and adults. The species was described by Francis Walker in 1853.
Leucochrysa pavida
Lichen-carrying Green Lacewing
Leucochrysa pavida is a green lacewing species in the family Chrysopidae, distributed across North America, Central America, and South America. Its larvae are notable for carrying lichen and other debris as camouflage, a behavior that distinguishes them from many other chrysopid larvae. The species was first described by Hagen in 1861 and has been studied for its distinctive defensive behaviors.
Meleoma hageni
Meleoma hageni is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, described by Nathan Banks in 1949. The genus Meleoma is a small, distinctive group within the Chrysopidae, characterized by reduced wing venation and other specialized morphological features that separate it from the more common green lacewings of the genus Chrysoperla. Species in this genus are poorly known compared to their economically important relatives, with limited published information on their biology and ecology.
Meleoma signoretti
Meleoma signoretti is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae. It belongs to a genus distinguished by modified, often pectinate or clubbed male antennae. The species is part of a diverse group of predatory insects commonly known as lacewings. Limited published information exists on its specific biology.
Nacarina robusta
Nacarina robusta is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, order Neuroptera. The species was originally described by Nathan Banks in 1905 as Chrysopa robusta and later transferred to the genus Nacarina. It is known from North America. The genus Nacarina was established to accommodate species previously placed in Chrysopa that share distinct morphological characteristics. Like other chrysopids, this species is predatory in both larval and adult stages.
Nothochrysa californica
San Francisco lacewing
Nothochrysa californica, commonly known as the San Francisco lacewing, is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae. It is native to North America and was first described by Nathan Banks in 1892. The species is part of a genus of large lacewings distinguished from typical green lacewings (Chrysoperla) by morphological features.
Pimachrysa albicostales
Pimachrysa albicostales is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, described by Adams in 1967. It belongs to the genus Pimachrysa, which is distributed in the Americas. As with other chrysopids, adults are likely predatory, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Pimachrysa fusca
Pimachrysa fusca is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, described by Adams in 1967. It belongs to the order Neuroptera, a group of insects commonly known as lacewings, antlions, and allies. The genus Pimachrysa is part of a diverse family of predatory insects whose larvae are often important biological control agents. This species has been documented in North America, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Yumachrysa apache
Apache Lacewing
Yumachrysa apache is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, first described by Banks in 1938. Originally placed in the genus Chrysopa, it was later transferred to Yumachrysa. The species is known from North America, with 136 observations recorded on iNaturalist. Like other green lacewings, it belongs to a group of predatory insects commonly used in biological pest control.
Yumachrysa unidentified-sp-texas
Yumachrysa unidentified-sp-texas is an undescribed or poorly documented species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae, subfamily Nothochrysinae. It represents a taxon recognized from specimens collected in Texas that has not been formally described in the scientific literature. Members of the genus Yumachrysa are relatively uncommon and understudied compared to other chrysopid genera. This taxon is distinguished from described Yumachrysa species by subtle morphological differences, though formal diagnostic characters remain unpublished.