Green Lacewing
(Chrysoperla carnea)

• TRUTH: Larvae hunt aphids.

• Does not build paper nests.

• Adults can hear ultrasonic echolocation signals from bats.

Why This Tiny Insect Matters

The Green Lacewing is a reminder that some of nature’s most helpful allies are easy to overlook. Delicate and elegant as an adult, it begins life as a fierce little hunter. Its larvae feed on aphids and other soft-bodied pests, making this species an important part of the balance that keeps plants and ecosystems healthier.

Meet the Green Lacewing

• Conservation status: Has not been evaluated

• Endemic: No

• Habitat: Gardens, meadows, hedgerows, forests, and agricultural landscapes

• Ecological role: Predator of aphids and other small soft-bodied insects, especially in the larval stage

• Lifespan: Lives through egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages

• Fun fact: Lacewing larvae are sometimes called “aphid lions” because of how actively they hunt tiny plant pests.

Share Your Discovery

Share on Instagram and tag us: @overlookinglens.photo
#OverlookingLens #HiddenWonders

Explore more

If this image caught your attention, you may also enjoy exploring the wider collection.