Lacewings in the Garden

Lacewings are beneficial insects whose larvae prey on many soft-bodied garden pests. Gardeners often notice the delicate winged adults near lights or vegetation, but the larval stage is usually responsible for most of the pest-control benefit.

What Lacewings Look Like

Adult green lacewings are usually slender insects with large transparent wings held roof-like over the body. Their wings contain a dense network of veins that gives the group its common name.

Brown Lacewings Also Exist

Not all lacewings are bright green. Brown lacewings are generally smaller and darker but can also be useful predators in gardens.

Lacewing Larvae Look Very Different

Larvae are elongated and somewhat alligator-shaped with prominent curved jaws. Gardeners unfamiliar with them sometimes mistake them for pests.

Why Larvae Are Beneficial

Lacewing larvae actively hunt prey and use their jaws to capture small insects. They can consume many pests during development.

Aphids Are Common Prey

Aphids are among the best-known foods for lacewing larvae. Dense aphid colonies can attract predators and provide an abundant food source.

Other Prey Includes Soft-Bodied Pests

Lacewing larvae may also eat whiteflies, mealybugs, small caterpillars, insect eggs, mites, thrips, and other small organisms depending on species and opportunity.

Adults Often Feed Differently

Many adult green lacewings feed on nectar, pollen, and honeydew rather than actively hunting insects. Some species remain predatory as adults.

Lacewing Eggs Are Easy to Recognize

Many lacewings lay individual pale eggs at the end of fine stalks attached to leaves or stems. The stalk helps separate newly hatched larvae from one another.

Do Not Destroy Egg Stalks

Gardeners sometimes remove lacewing eggs because they appear unusual. Learning to recognize them prevents accidental loss of beneficial insects.

Larvae Can Be Aggressive Hunters

Lacewing larvae roam leaves and stems searching for prey rather than waiting in one location. They are especially useful where pest colonies are scattered across plants.

Look Near Aphid Colonies

When aphids appear, inspect nearby leaves for lacewing eggs and larvae before applying insecticides. Natural enemies may already be reducing the infestation.

Honeydew Can Attract Adults

Sugary honeydew produced by aphids and other sap feeders can serve as food for some adult lacewings and may help draw them into pest-infested areas.

Grow Small Nectar-Rich Flowers

Flowers with accessible nectar and pollen can support adult lacewings. Dill, fennel, cilantro, alyssum, yarrow, and similar flowering plants can provide resources when allowed to bloom.

Provide Flowers Across the Season

A continuous sequence of blooms is more useful than one short flowering period. Different plant species can provide food from spring through fall.

Avoid Broad-Spectrum Insecticides

Products that kill pest insects indiscriminately can also kill lacewings and other predators. Confirm whether treatment is necessary before spraying.

Be Careful With Sprays on Open Flowers

Even products considered relatively selective may affect beneficial insects through direct contact. Avoid unnecessary applications where lacewings and pollinators are actively feeding.

Leave Some Garden Complexity

Shrubs, perennials, groundcovers, and mixed plantings create more shelter and feeding opportunities than bare landscapes.

Do Not Expect Lacewings to Eliminate Every Pest

Natural enemies help suppress pest populations but rarely remove every individual. Some prey must remain available to sustain predator populations.

Commercial Lacewing Releases

Lacewing eggs or larvae are sometimes sold for biological control. Releases work best when appropriate prey is present and pesticides are not interfering with survival.

Released Adults May Leave

Adult lacewings can fly away if the habitat does not provide food and suitable conditions. Improving the garden environment can be more important than simply releasing insects.

Lacewings Fit Into Integrated Pest Management

They are most useful as part of a broader strategy that includes monitoring, correct identification, plant health, sanitation, and selective treatment only when necessary.

Practical Takeaway

Lacewings are valuable garden predators, especially during their larval stage. Recognize their eggs and larvae, provide nectar and pollen for adults, and avoid unnecessary insecticides so natural populations can contribute to pest control.