Green lacewing fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC
What are green lacewings?
Green lacewings are delicate Australian insects with pale green bodies and clear wings covered in fine lace-like veins. They belong to the insect order Neuroptera (net-winged insects), and the family Chrysopidae is known as the green lacewings.
Green lacewings are helpful insects in gardens and bushland. Adults are most active at night and may fly to lights. Their larvae are hunters that eat many small plant-pest insects, so gardeners often call them aphid lions. (Antlions are a different group of net-winged insects whose larvae make sand pit traps.)
Fast facts – Green lacewings
Scientific name – Green lacewings (family Chrysopidae); common Australian species Mallada signatus
Size – adult about 12–15 mm long; larvae grow to about 8 mm
Colour – adult pale green with clear wings; larvae mottled brown/grey (often camouflaged)
Habitat – bushland, parks, gardens, orchards, often near plants with lots of small insects
Diet – adults feed mainly on nectar, pollen and honeydew; larvae are predators of small soft-bodied insects and eggs.
Where do green lacewings live?
Green lacewings are found widely across Australia in many habitats, including native vegetation and suburban gardens. You might spot adults resting on leaves during the day, or flying around outdoor lights at night. Because they need food at different life stages, they do best in places with lots of plant cover and many small insects to hunt.
What do green lacewings eat?
Adults mostly feed on nectar and pollen, and sometimes sugary honeydew made by sap-sucking insects.
Larvae are the main hunters. They eat many small soft-bodied insects and eggs, such as aphids, thrips, mites, mealybugs, scale insects, moth eggs and tiny caterpillars. Larvae use sharp, curved jaws to pierce prey and suck out the contents.
What is the life cycle of a green lacewing?
Green lacewings go through complete metamorphosis (egg → larva → pupa → adult).
Eggs: Females lay eggs on the underside of leaves. Green lacewing eggs sit at the end of long, flexible stalks (this helps protect them from predators like ants).
Larvae: When eggs hatch, the larvae begin hunting straight away. Many green lacewing larvae camouflage themselves by piling the remains of prey (and other debris) on their backs, which helps them hide while they hunt.
Pupa: After growing and moulting several times, the larva spins a silken cocoon and pupates.
Adult: Adults emerge, feed, and females begin laying eggs about a week later.
How do green lacewings help the environment?
Green lacewing larvae are natural pest controllers. By eating large numbers of small insects, they can reduce pest outbreaks and help plants stay healthy. This is one reason green lacewings are used in integrated pest management (IPM)—working with nature to reduce the need for pesticides.
How can you help lacewings?
You can make your school or home garden more lacewing-friendly by:
- Planting a variety of flowering plants, to provide shelter, nectar and pollen for adults across seasons
- Avoiding or reducing insect sprays, which can kill lacewings as well as pests
- Turning off unnecessary outdoor lights at night, which can disrupt lacewing behaviour
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Plants that provide nectar and pollen
Attributions
References
CSIRO. n.d. Neuroptera: lacewings and antlions. [online] Available at: https://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/neuroptera.html
Queensland Government (Business Queensland). 2019. Lacewings. [online] Available at: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/biosecurity/plants/insects/beneficial/lacewings
NSW Department of Primary Industries. 2016–17. Cryptolaemus and lacewings for mealybug and scale control (Grapevine management guide). [pdf] Available at: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/1158103/Cryptolaemus-and-lacewings-for-mealybug-and-scale-control.pdf
Good Bugs. n.d. Green Lacewing (from The Good Bug Book, 2nd ed.). [pdf] Available at: https://www.goodbugs.org.au/Good%20bugs/Resources/GreenLacewing.pdf
GBIF. n.d. Mallada signatus (Schneider, 1851). [online] Available at: https://www.gbif.org/species/2104808
Images
An adult green lacewing – Field of Mars EEC (original illustration). 
A green lacewing adult showing its lace-like wings – “File:(MHNT) Chrysoperla carnea - side view.jpg” by Didier Descouens. CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped, rotated). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:(MHNT)Chrysoperla_carnea-_side_view.jpg 
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Top view of an adult green lacewing – “File:Green lacewing (5698967017).jpg” by John Tann. CC BY 2.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Green_lacewing_(5698967017).jpg
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Bushland in places like the Field of Mars Reserve provides good habitat for lacewings – Field of Mars EEC (original image). 
Adults may visit flowers for nectar and pollen – Field of Mars EEC (original image). 
Green lacewing egg with newly hatched larva – “File:Bug on a rope (8317486112).jpg” by Jean and Fred. CC BY 2.0 (cropped). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bug_on_a_rope_(8317486112).jpg 
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Lacewing larva carrying debris for camouflage – “File:Lacewing larva with house (6403195375).jpg” by John Tann. CC BY 2.0 (cropped).
Green lacewings help to control pests in gardens – Field of Mars EEC (original image).
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