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Green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea)

Identification

Chrysoperla carnea, commonly called green lacewing or aphid lion, is a small insect native to Canada, belonging to the Neuroptera family.

Adults are delicate insects, 2 cm long. They are pale green, with translucent oval wings and long antennae. The eggs are laid on plants, generally near aphid colonies. Each egg is attached to a thin stem (pedicel) 1 cm long. The larvae are predatory, with strong mandibles (mouthparts) that enables them to seize their prey.

Adults are active at dusk and feed on pollen, flower nectar and aphid honeydew. Their larvae on the other hand feed on thrips, whiteflies, moths, beetles, eggs, small larvae, mealy bugs, psyllids, and mites. These little monsters have large hollow hooked jaws that pierce into the prey on contact and secrete digestive enzymes that melts it into its exoskeleton, sucking up the prey’s body juice.

The number of lacewings needed for effective control depends on the pest population and climatic conditions.These insects are extremely effective under certain conditions, especially in protected or enclosed areas such as a greenhouse.

Cannabis
Ornemental crops
Cucumbers
Peppers

Aphids
Whiteflies
Thrips
Soft-bodied insects (caterpillars and nymphs)
invertebrate eggs

The life cycle varies with temperature (4 weeks to 3 months).
The optimum conditions are a temperature of 20 ° C to 31 ° C and a relative humidity of 70%.
The eggs are laid on plants, generally near aphid colonies.
The females lay their eggs on the leaves near aphid colonies.
Larvae emerge from the eggs after 3 to 6 days.
One larva can consume 100 to 600 aphids during its development.
The larval stage lasts 15 to 20 days.
Pupation occurs on a leaf, the larvae built a small white cocoon hairy. Adults emerge from the cocoon after 10 to 14 days.