Chrysopa oculata
GREEN LACEWING FAMILY (Chrysopidae)

Description
This lacewing is about 1 inch long. The abdomen and thorax are bright green. The thorax has 2 rows of small black dots on top. The top of the head has a black and white pattern. The eyes are large and gold or copper-colored. The wings are large and clear with many green veins forming a lace-like pattern. The antennae are long and thread-like. This lacewing was identified by volunteer experts at the BugGuide Website.

Occurrence
These lacewings are common in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. Look for them in summer through fall sitting on vegetation or in grass.

Comments
Golden-eyed Lacewings are commonly called green lacewings and are in the Order Neuroptera, so called nerve-winged insects. Some adults are predators, and others take honeydew, nectar and pollen. The larvae are very effective predators on aphids, spider mites, scales, caterpillars, thrips, leafhoppers, white flies, and mealybugs, and are often called Aphid Lions. They pupate in silk cocoons attached to the underside of leaves. The adults overwinter in leaf litter and under bark. In Europe many gardeners provide “lacewing hotels” which are shelters filled with straw to help them survive the winter. There are 15 genera and 84 species of green lacewings in North America.

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