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NO. 029Green lacewing illustrationIllustration · not shown at life size

Other insects / Insect

Green lacewing

Chrysopidae · family group

AdultAn everyday search

Fine lines crisscross this insect’s delicate wings. Its eggs sit on tiny stalks.

Let’s look closer

Little clues

Three things to notice.

  1. Fine net-veined wings.

  2. Eggs stand on slender stalks.

  3. Larvae hunt aphids.

Out in the world

Where to look.

Around southeastern Wisconsin

Vegetation and lights at night.

When to look

At night, when adults are active and may visit lights.

Look closely. Leave your tiny neighbor where you found it.

A closer look

One clue is just the start.

A lacewing larva looks very different from its winged parent. The hungry larva can help by eating aphids.

A special find can be hard to spot without being biologically rare. Encounters depend on season and habitat.

For curious grownups, too

Read a little further.

Original summaries, with references for deeper reading. Field notes are being checked against the supplied research.

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Artwork & downloads.

Front artwork is made for a 3-inch clear disc. Revised artwork still needs a physical check. Reverse QR files use the confirmed permanent website.

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