|Lacewing eggs are found on stalks.||Lacewing larva feeding on whitefly nymphs.||Green Lacewing adults have golden eyes.|
Lacewings (Neuroptera) - Green, Brown Lacewings, Trash bugs; Dusty Wings- Medium dispersion - around 1/4 mile - adults find prey and lay single eggs on long hair like white stalks next to it. ID -Lacewing adults are green with golden eyes or brown, with heavily membranous wings and they are attracted to lights at night. Larvae are alligator-like and feed with piercing sucking hollow pinchers. They first inject poison to immobilize/liquefy prey contents, and then suck it back through the hollow pinchers. These are great predators that will tackle anything in their way, including each other; so don't put them all in one area if prey is sparse. I have even seen them eat poisonous aphids, like oleander aphid. Lacewings are commercially available as either eggs or larvae. Larvae can come in either cells or in bran. If shipping in summer, check for viability IMMEDIATELY upon arrival. If they aren't moving around - then you have problems - reorder for free. ADULTS ARE NOT PREDATORY AND NEED POLLEN in order to realize their high reproductive rate. Best plants here are high pollen producers like cilantro, sunflowers, sudex, corn, etc. Start early to prevent problems or can be used as a biopesticide to control outbreaks of aphids or other soft-bodied pests.