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#31: Lacewings


Litinsects #31: Lacewings

Lacewings belong to the insect order NEUROPTERA, or net-winged insects, which I’d guess might be among the orders that you’ve never heard of... Neuropterans are characterized by membranous wings with many branching veins. Species in this order undergo complete metamorphosis. This here is a green lacewing and here are a few facts about these fellas.

  • These insects are active predators but are omnivorous. They prey on scale insects, aphids, mites, and other small soft-bodied arthropods but may also feed on pollen, nectar, and aphid honeydew. The larvae are also predacious and are sometimes referred to as aphid lions
  • Lacewings are often used as biological pest control
  • They have tympanal organs at the base of their wings... remember these? They are the insect equivalents of eardrums. They can sense bat echolocation so when they hear a predator while flying, they drop to the ground to avoid being caught
  • Individuals produce courtship songs through body vibrations. Many species of lacewings are physically almost indistinguishable but are still considered different species because of their unique courtship songs
  • Eggs are laid in a rather unique way, at the end of a thin hair-like structure on the underside of leaves
  • And best of all... after sucking out the insides of aphid prey, some lacewing larvae stick the shriveled carcasses to their backs as a kind of chemical camouflage! Remember last time how I mentioned that some ants tend to and protect aphids in exchange for feeding on their honeydew? Well this includes attacking predators of aphids... so by carrying aphid carcasses around with them, they aren’t as vulnerable to attack by ants
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