Lacewing

GENERAL

Lacewings are insects in the large family Chrysopidae of the order Neuroptera.

There about 85 genera and (differing between sources) 1,300–2,000 species 

Green lacewings are delicate insects with a wingspan of 6 to over 65 mm

The bodies are usually bright green to greenish-brown, and the compound eyes are conspicuously golden in many species.

The wings are usually translucent with a slight iridescence

EGGS

Eggs are deposited at night, singly or in small groups; one female produces some 100–200 eggs.

Eggs are placed on plants

Each egg is hung on a slender stalk about 1 cm long, to keep them from eating one another when they hatch, usually on the underside of a leaf. Immediately after hatching, the larvae moult, then ascend the egg stalk to feed

LARVA

Lacewing larvae look like little alligators

Lacewing larvae are grey-brown in color and very tiny when just hatched, so you may need a magnifying glass to see them

The larvae are also called aphid lions, because they devour aphids

Larvae have either a more slender "humpbacked" shape with a prominent bulge on the thorax

Larvae growing up to 1/2" long need about 1–3 weeks to pupation which takes place in a cocoon

ADULTS

Adults are nocturnal. They feed on pollen, nectar and honeydew supplemented with mites, aphids and other small arthropods

Adults range in size from 1/2-3/4" long

Adults live 4-6 weeks

MY OBSERVATIONS

1-3-1993 – Observed some eggs hanged in an orchid leaf

The hanging thread is thick enough that if we reverse the leaf it stands erect

Eggs halfwhite in colour and below 1mm in length, oval in shape

5-3-1993 – Eggs hatched at 4PM

                             Viewed through microscope