Europe and neighbouring parts of the western Palaearctic; records may include members of the Chrysoperla carnea species complex.
Fine-art photographic collection
Chrysoperla carnea
An aphid hunter whose eggs stand on stilts to survive its own cannibalistic young.
About this species
Common Green Lacewing
Chrysoperla carnea(Stephens, 1836)
Information reviewed15 July 2026
The common green lacewing separates its vulnerable eggs from the plant surface on hair-thin silk stalks. The larvae that hatch below are aggressive predators equipped with hollow, sickle-shaped jaws.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Neuroptera · Chrysopidae · Chrysoperla
Accepted species, but the name is also used within a cryptic species complex whose members may require acoustic or molecular evidence for secure identification. · checked 2026-07-15
Western PalaearcticBroad documented range and selected reference localities — not a complete occurrence map.
A wide range of vegetated habitats, including crops, gardens and woodland edges.
Adults are mainly nocturnal; larvae forage actively on vegetation.
Larvae prey on aphids and other small arthropods; adults mainly take honeydew, nectar and pollen.
Solitary.
What makes this species remarkable?
Each egg is placed at the end of a long silk stalk, reducing the chance that newly hatched larvae will find and eat neighbouring eggs.
A larva pierces prey with hollow jaws, injects digestive fluid and sucks out the liquefied contents like a pair of biological drinking straws.
One larva can consume hundreds of aphids during development, which is why the species is mass-reared for biological pest control.
More photographs
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