University:
Washington State University
Course:
ENTOM 101 | Insects and People: A Perspective
Academic year:

2024
Views:

311

Pages:

1
Author:

behend6abs

Green Lacewing The green lacewing, Chrysopa spp. (Fig. 1), measures up to 3/4 inch in length. It is entirely green with four delicate, filmy wings; long antennae; and reddish gold, iridescent eyes. A similar looking insect is the brown lacewing that is usually much smaller than the green lacewing. Life Cycle Beneficial Effects Green lacewing larvae are predaceous on many soft-bodied insects including aphids, mites, scale insects, immature bugs, and leafhoppers. Some larvae carry shriveled bodies of insects they have eaten along with bits of trash and debris on their backs. Many adults feed on honeydew and plant exudates, but many are also predaceous. Culturing Green lacewings are one of the more easily cultured insects for use in biological and integrated control programs. Female lacewings lay 10 to 30 eggs per day up to a few hundred in their lifetimes. The pale green eggs (Fig. 2) are laid singly on long, slender stalks. Larvae (Fig. 3) are alligator-shaped and usually mottled at maturity, prior to pupation. They have long, sickle-shaped mandibles (jaws) that are used to suck juices from their prey. From egg to adult usually takes about 27 days and the adult will live from 20 to 40 days. Fig. 2. Eggs of the western green lacewing. Author unknown. Fig. 3. Young larva of western green lacewing feeding on aphid. By R.D. Akre. Fig. 1. Western green lacewing. By H. Riedl.