Lacewings in the Garden: Natural Pest Control With Beneficial Insects

When gardeners discover aphids covering tender shoots or gathering beneath leaves, spraying an insecticide may seem like the fastest solution. However, a healthy garden may already contain a much more precise form of pest control: lacewing larvae.

Lacewings are beneficial insects whose larvae feed on aphids and numerous other small, soft-bodied garden pests. Although adult lacewings are delicate and easy to overlook, their young are active predators equipped with curved jaws for capturing prey.

By learning how to recognize lacewing eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults, gardeners can avoid accidentally removing these useful insects. Creating a lacewing-friendly habitat can also support natural pest control and reduce dependence on broad-spectrum pesticides.

What Are Lacewings?

Lacewings are insects belonging to the order Neuroptera. Their name refers to the network of visible veins covering their delicate wings, which creates a lace-like appearance.

Two groups are commonly encountered in gardens:

• Green lacewings from the family Chrysopidae
• Brown lacewings from the family Hemerobiidae

Green lacewings are usually the most familiar. Adults often have pale green bodies, long antennae, prominent golden or copper-colored eyes, and two pairs of transparent wings held over the body.

However, color alone is not always a reliable way to identify them. Some green lacewing species can appear brown, gray, or reddish, particularly during cooler periods.

Adult lacewings are frequently seen resting on leaves, near flowers, or around outdoor lights at night.

Why Are Lacewings Beneficial?

Lacewing larvae are generalist predators. Rather than feeding on plants, they hunt many of the small arthropods that damage garden crops and ornamental plants.

Depending on the lacewing species and available prey, larvae may eat:

• Aphids
• Thrips
• Spider mites
• Whiteflies
• Mealybugs
• Scale insect crawlers
• Small caterpillars
• Moth and butterfly eggs
• Leafhopper nymphs
• Other small insect larvae

Lacewing larvae are particularly valuable for controlling aphids. Aphids reproduce rapidly and feed by extracting plant fluids. Large populations can curl leaves, distort young growth, reduce plant vigor, produce sticky honeydew, and contribute to the spread of certain plant diseases.

Natural predators often arrive after aphid colonies begin developing. Once lacewing larvae appear, they can help slow the population’s growth as part of a broader integrated pest-management system.

Lacewings should not be viewed as an instant cure for every infestation. Their value comes from helping maintain a long-term balance between pests and predators.

What Does a Lacewing Look Like?

Lacewings look very different at each stage of their life cycle. This causes gardeners to mistake their eggs or larvae for harmful insects.

Adult lacewings

Adult green lacewings generally have:

• A narrow, soft body
• Long, threadlike antennae
• Large, reflective eyes
• Two pairs of transparent wings
• Numerous veins across the wings
• A resting posture with wings held like a roof over the body

Adults are delicate fliers and may be attracted to porch lights and illuminated windows after dark.

Many adult green lacewings primarily consume nectar, pollen, and honeydew, although the feeding behavior varies by species. Adult brown lacewings and adults of some green lacewing species may also prey on small insects.

Lacewing eggs

Green lacewing eggs are among the easiest beneficial-insect eggs to recognize.

A female commonly places each small, pale egg at the end of a thin, hair-like stalk attached to a leaf, stem, or another plant surface. Eggs may be laid individually or in small groups, often near suitable prey.

The stalk helps separate the eggs from the surface and from one another. This may reduce the risk of newly hatched larvae eating nearby eggs.

Do not remove these eggs if you find them near an aphid colony. They may soon hatch into helpful predators.

Lacewing larvae

Lacewing larvae have elongated bodies, prominent curved jaws, and three pairs of legs near the front of the body. Their appearance is sometimes compared with a tiny alligator.

They are also known as “aphid lions” because of their predatory behavior.

A larva uses its jaws to seize prey and extract the contents. Although this sounds dramatic, lacewing larvae are focused on small arthropods and do not damage garden plants.

Some species cover their bodies with the remains of prey, wax, lichen, or pieces of plant material. This debris acts as camouflage and may make the larva look like a moving pile of lint.

Before removing an unfamiliar insect from an infested plant, examine it carefully. A strange-looking larva moving among aphids may be a predator rather than a pest.

Lacewing pupae

After completing the larval stage, a green lacewing spins a small, round, silken cocoon. The cocoon may be attached to foliage, bark, or another protected surface.

The insect develops inside before emerging as a winged adult.

Avoid excessive cleanup or pruning when you notice these small cocoons, particularly in areas where lacewing larvae have recently been active.

The Lacewing Life Cycle

Lacewings undergo complete metamorphosis, passing through four stages:

1. Egg
2. Larva
3. Pupa
4. Adult

Adult females place eggs near potential food sources. After hatching, larvae pass through three progressively larger developmental stages while actively hunting prey.

Mature larvae then form silken cocoons and enter the pupal stage. Adults emerge, mate, and begin the cycle again.

Development time depends on the species, temperature, climate, and food availability. Under warm conditions, green lacewings may complete development from egg to adult in approximately four to six weeks and produce multiple generations during one growing season.

In cold climates, some lacewings survive winter in protected locations as inactive larvae, prepupae, pupae, or adults, depending on the species. Leaf litter, bark crevices, and sheltered vegetation can provide important overwintering habitat.

The University of California Integrated Pest Management Program provides detailed identification and lifecycle information for green lacewings.

Lacewings Versus Lace Bugs

Lacewings and lace bugs are not the same insect.

This distinction is important because lacewings are predators, while lace bugs feed on plants.

Do not assume an insect is harmful simply because “bug” or “lace” appears in its common name. Confirm its identity before applying a treatment.

How to Attract Lacewings to Your Garden

The most sustainable way to benefit from lacewings is to create conditions that support naturally occurring populations.

Grow small, accessible flowers

Adult lacewings need reliable food sources. Flowers that provide exposed nectar and pollen are easier for many beneficial insects to use than deep or highly complex blooms.

Useful garden plants may include:

• Sweet alyssum
• Dill
• Fennel
• Coriander
• Yarrow
• Cosmos
• Coreopsis
• Calendula
• Asters
• Daisies
• Angelica
• Queen Anne’s lace
• Goldenrod
• Sunflowers
• Native flowering herbs

Select plants appropriate for your region, and avoid species considered invasive locally.

Provide flowers throughout the growing season

A short burst of spring flowers will not support adult beneficial insects through summer and fall.

Combine plants with different blooming periods so nectar and pollen remain available for as much of the growing season as possible.

For example:

• Grow alyssum and coriander early in the season.
• Add cosmos, coreopsis and yarrow for summer.
• Use asters and goldenrod for late-season flowers.

Plant diversity generally creates a more stable habitat than relying on one flower species.

Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides

Broad-spectrum insecticides may kill predators along with the pests they are intended to control. This can disrupt natural biological control and sometimes allow aphid populations to recover faster than predator populations.

Even products described as natural or organic can harm beneficial insects if sprayed directly on them.

Before using any pesticide:

• Confirm the pest’s identity.
• Decide whether the damage justifies treatment.
• Try nonchemical controls first.
• Select the least disruptive effective product.
• Apply it only to affected areas.
• Follow all label directions.
• Avoid spraying open flowers when pollinators are active.

The University of Minnesota Extension recommends limiting pesticide applications and maintaining continuously flowering plants to support lacewings.

Allow a small amount of prey

A completely pest-free garden cannot support a permanent population of predators.

A small number of aphids on a healthy, established plant may provide food for lacewings, lady beetles, hoverfly larvae, and parasitoid wasps. Immediate spraying can remove this food source before predators have time to arrive.

This does not mean ignoring a severe infestation. Monitor the plant and intervene if pest numbers continue rising or the plant begins suffering significant damage.

Control ants around aphid colonies

Some ants collect the honeydew produced by aphids. In exchange, they may defend aphid colonies from lacewings and other predators.

If ants are repeatedly patrolling aphid-covered plants, managing their access may help natural enemies reach the colony. Address the ants without spraying the beneficial insects already present.

Provide water safely

Beneficial insects need moisture, especially during hot, dry weather.

A shallow dish filled with pebbles and water can provide a safer landing surface than a deep, open container. Replace the water frequently to prevent mosquito development.

Normal garden irrigation and dew may provide sufficient moisture in some climates.

Preserve sheltered habitat

Dense plants, shrubs, leaf litter, bark, and other protected spaces give beneficial insects places to rest, pupate, and survive unfavorable weather.

Avoid removing every leaf and stem from the garden in fall. Leaving some plant material in a designated habitat area can support lacewings and other beneficial insects through winter.

Should You Buy Lacewing Eggs or Larvae?

Green lacewings are commercially available as eggs, larvae, and sometimes adults. They are commonly sold for use in greenhouses, indoor growing areas, and outdoor gardens.

However, buying lacewings is not always necessary or successful. Naturally occurring predators may already be present, and released insects will not remain if the environment lacks prey, flowers, water, or shelter.

Lacewing eggs

Eggs are generally less expensive and easier to ship than larvae. They can be distributed close to aphid colonies and other pest activity.

Their limitations include:

• They do not begin feeding until they hatch.
• Ants or other predators may remove them.
• Newly hatched larvae may disperse.
• Weather can affect survival.

Lacewing larvae

Larvae begin hunting soon after release and can be placed directly near active pest colonies.

They may be useful when immediate predatory activity is wanted, but they are more delicate to transport and handle. Lacewing larvae are also generalist predators and may consume other beneficial insects—or one another—when prey is scarce.

Adult lacewings

Adult lacewings can fly away shortly after release. Unless the garden provides suitable food, habitat, and egg-laying sites, they may not remain in the target area.

For many home gardens, attracting local lacewings is a more reliable long-term strategy than repeatedly purchasing adults.

Research on augmentative lacewing releases has produced varying results depending on crop, environment, pest density, and release method. Treat purchased lacewings as one component of pest management rather than a guaranteed solution.

How to Release Purchased Lacewings

Always follow the supplier’s instructions because storage and release procedures vary among products and species.

General guidelines include:

1. Confirm that the pest is suitable prey for lacewing larvae.
2. Estimate where pest populations are concentrated.
3. Avoid spraying insecticides before or after release.
4. Release eggs or larvae as soon as recommended.
5. Place them close to the pest colonies.
6. Distribute them across several affected plants.
7. Protect them from intense heat and direct midday sunlight.
8. Monitor both pest and predator activity.
9. Repeat the release only when necessary.

Do not place every egg or larva in one location. Lacewing larvae may compete with or consume one another when crowded.

Releases are often more predictable in enclosed greenhouses than in open outdoor gardens, where weather, dispersal, ants, and other predators influence survival.

Do Lacewings Bite People?

Adult lacewings do not normally cause problems for people.

Lacewing larvae possess jaws designed for capturing small prey. On rare occasions, a larva may nip human skin when handled or trapped against the body. Such incidents are generally minor and do not mean the insect is aggressive or dangerous.

Avoid handling larvae directly. If one lands on you, brush it away gently rather than crushing it.

Lacewings do not sting, establish infestations in homes, or feed on people.

Will Lacewings Damage Plants?

Lacewing larvae are predators and do not chew leaves, bore into stems, or extract plant sap.

Many adult lacewings feed on nectar, pollen, and aphid honeydew. Some adult species also prey on insects. Their presence on a flower or leaf does not mean they are damaging the plant.

If leaves show stippling, holes, distortion, or sticky residue, look for the actual pest rather than blaming nearby lacewings.

Are Lacewings Better Than Ladybugs?

Lacewings and lady beetles are both valuable predators, but one is not always better than the other.

A diverse garden should support multiple natural enemies rather than depend on a single predator. Lacewings, lady beetles, hoverflies, minute pirate bugs, spiders, and parasitoid wasps can work together to limit pest outbreaks.

Signs Lacewings Are Working

Look closely rather than expecting pest colonies to disappear overnight.

Evidence of lacewing activity may include:

• Stalked eggs near aphid colonies
• Alligator-shaped larvae moving among pests
• Empty aphid skins
• A reduction in young aphids
• Fewer expanding colonies
• Small silken cocoons on sheltered surfaces
• Adult lacewings resting near flowers or lights

Natural pest control takes time. Aphids can reproduce rapidly, so predator numbers may initially appear too low. Continue monitoring before deciding whether another intervention is required.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistaking larvae for pests

Lacewing larvae look fierce and unfamiliar. Identify them before removing or spraying them.

Spraying aphids immediately

A mild aphid colony may attract predators. Spraying too early can kill both pests and natural enemies.

Using pesticides after releasing lacewings

Even low-risk products may kill lacewing eggs or larvae through direct contact. Read the label and coordinate treatments carefully.

Expecting purchased insects to stay permanently

Released lacewings may disperse if food and habitat are inadequate. Improve the garden environment before buying more insects.

Releasing too many larvae together

Lacewing larvae can be cannibalistic. Distribute them according to supplier directions rather than concentrating them on one leaf.

Eliminating every aphid

Predators require prey. The goal is to keep pest populations below damaging levels, not necessarily to remove every individual insect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are lacewings good for the garden?

Yes. Lacewing larvae feed on aphids, mites, thrips, whiteflies, mealybugs, small caterpillars, and other potential pests.

What do adult green lacewings eat?

Many adults feed on nectar, pollen, and honeydew. Adults of certain species are also predatory, so feeding behavior varies.

What do lacewing eggs look like?

Green lacewing eggs are usually pale, oval-shaped, and placed at the end of thin stalks attached to plant surfaces.

What is an aphid lion?

Aphid lion is a common nickname for a lacewing larva. The name refers to its ability to hunt aphids and other small prey.

How long does the lacewing life cycle take?

Under warm conditions, development from egg to adult may take around four to six weeks. Temperature, species, and food availability influence the timing.

Do lacewings eat spider mites?

Lacewing larvae can consume mites, including spider mites, particularly when the mites are accessible and other prey is available.

Do lacewings pollinate flowers?

Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen and may transfer pollen between blooms. Their primary value in pest management, however, comes from the predatory larval stage.

Can lacewings live in a greenhouse?

Yes. Lacewings are frequently used for biological pest control in greenhouses. Enclosed conditions may reduce dispersal and make targeted releases easier.

Should I buy lacewing eggs or larvae?

Eggs are usually economical and easier to distribute. Larvae begin hunting immediately but are more delicate and may be more expensive. The better option depends on pest pressure and growing conditions.

How can I attract lacewings naturally?

Grow a continuous supply of small nectar-rich flowers, limit broad-spectrum pesticides, retain some sheltered habitat, and tolerate small pest populations when plants are not being seriously damaged.

Final Thoughts

Lacewings are easy to miss, but they can play an important role in a balanced garden. Their larvae hunt aphids and other small pests, while many adults use nectar, pollen, and honeydew as food.

The most effective way to benefit from lacewings is not simply to purchase and release them. Build a habitat that gives beneficial insects what they need: diverse flowers, accessible water, protected areas, suitable prey, and freedom from unnecessary pesticides.

When you find a stalked egg or an unusual larva moving through an aphid colony, pause before reaching for a spray. The insect you are about to remove may already be solving the problem for you.