NATURAL ENEMIES

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Adult Eggs Larva Larva Click on image to view larger.

Lacewings Description: Adults are light green or brown with long slender antennae, golden eyes and long delicately veined wings that are 2-3/4 inch long. The green lacewing can be identified by the dark straight line on the side of the head that runs from the eye to the mouth. Its body is green with a wide pale stripe along the top of the body. Benefit: Larvae have sickle-shaped mandibles with which they piece prey and suck out body juices. Adults have chewing mouthparts. Adults are poor fliers, active at night and feed on pollen, nectar and honeydew. Life cycle: Females oviposit eggs in groups. White eggs are oviposited on 1/4 inch slender stalks that keep young larvae from eating each other after they hatch. Larvae grow through 3 instars for 2 to 3 weeks before each spins a spherical white silken cocoon. The adult emerges in about 5 days. Overwinters in the cocoon or adult stage, depending on species. Adults disperse widely after emerging before mating and laying eggs. Some species have several generations per year.