Catch of the Week: Green Lacewings
October 7, 2019
Have you heard of green lacewings? These tiny bugs are usually found by homeowners in the garden or landscaping during spring, summer and fall months. The Des Moines area homeowner who sent these pictures of green lacewings on their home wasn’t sure what insect they had on their hands either, so they sent us a photo for a free bug identification. Our Entomologist was happy to assure them this insect is harmless and doesn’t require any type of treatment. In fact, the green lacewing can be a good insect to have around your yard. Read on to learn more about them and how this under-rated insect can be beneficial.
Can Some Insects Be Beneficial?
When people see bugs, their first instinct is to get rid of them and call an exterminator, but green lacewings actually aren’t much of a threat to people. This insect plays an important role in garden environments as a natural predator of bugs that can damage plants. They feed on soft-bodied and some insect eggs, keeping insect populations under control in garden and landscaping settings.
There are many types of helpful insects that perform natural garden pest control duties. Some home gardeners will actually order live green lacewing bugs and other beneficial insects in order to get rid of harmful bugs eating their yield. The following are some of the most well-known beneficial bugs to have in a garden:
- Green Lacewings
- Ladybugs
- Ground Beetles
- Minute Pirate Bugs
- Aphid Midges
- Damsel Bugs
- Braconid Wasps
- Spiders
- Praying Mantis
More About the Green Lacewings
This insect looks exactly as the name suggests. It is a tiny, light green bug with delicate and translucent wings. It only grows to be about ¾ inch long, and its most distinctive feature is its large, golden eyes. Our certified entomologist was able to capture this under a microscope for a closer look.
The green lacewing species typically thrive in gardens, vegetated landscaping and amongst agricultural settings. They are fairly weak fliers due to their intricate and flimsy wings, so they must live close to most of their food source. Green lacewings feed on nectar, pollen and a handful of other small, soft-bodied insects:
- Aphids
- Thrips
- Mealybugs
- Whiteflies
- Small Caterpillars
- Spider Mites
- Moth Eggs
- Leafhoppers
Des Moines Pest Control Experts
Are you unsure of a bug you’ve found inside or around your home? Send our team a picture by email or through one of our social media profiles. Our certified Entomologist regularly performs free insect identification services, and will let you know whether or not the pest you have needs to be treated. Get in touch with Preferred Pest Control to take care of issues or concerns you have with pests in your home. Call us at (515) 415-5550 or schedule an appointment online today.
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