Green Lacewing Eggs Packed in Rice Hull - Aphid Control

Pest Targets

Chrysoperla rufilabris

• Aphids
• Whiteflies
• Spider mites
• Thrips
• Mealybugs
• Scale (crawlers)
• Small caterpillars
• Psyllids
• Many other insect eggs and immature or soft-bodied stages

Chrysoperla rufilabris · How to Say It: kriss-oh-PER-luh roo-fih-LAB-ris

Nature's aphid lions offer a broad range of pest control

If aphids, whiteflies, thrips, or spider mites are getting the upper hand in your garden, green lacewing eggs in rice hulls offer a natural path to relief with no synthetic pesticides. Chrysoperla rufilabris, commonly known as green lacewings, are best recognized in their larval stage for an appetite that's earned them the nickname "aphid lions."

Lacewing larvae are generalist predators that feed heavily on aphids but will just as readily take down many types of other garden pests. Unlike the adults, which feed mainly on nectar and pollen, it's the larval stage that does the hunting. Eggs are shipped in rice hulls to protect them in transit and help ensure a healthy hatch, so the larvae emerge ready to start feeding right where you release them. They're an excellent choice for gardeners looking to tackle a broad range of pests with a single, sustainable release.

What Green Lacewings Are

Chrysoperla rufilabris is a common beneficial insect found throughout North American gardens. That long green bug with clear, veined wings hovering near a porch light at dusk, or the small green winged insect drifting across a patio in summer, is very likely an adult lacewing. The delicate, net-like wing pattern is where the name "lace wing" comes from. As a green flying bug with a slender body, it isn't harmful to people or pets. The larval stage looks nothing like the adult; instead it resembles a tiny brown-and-grey striped alligator.

Lacewing Life Cycle

Egg → larva → pupa → adult:

• Egg: Hatches in a few days to two weeks, depending on temperature.
• Larva: The "aphid lion" predatory stage, active for 2–3 weeks.
• Pupa: A brief resting stage before the adult emerges.
• Adult: Feeds on pollen and nectar, can restart the cycle by laying eggs.

Temperature for Green Lacewing Eggs to Hatch

Lacewing metabolism speeds up dramatically in warm weather and slows to a crawl in the cold.

• Hot (80°F to 95°F): Eggs will hatch very rapidly, often in just 2 to 4 days.
• Moderate (70°F to 77°F): Expect them to take about 4 to 7 days.
• Cool (Under 68°F): Development stretches out to 7 to 14 days.

Temperature for Green Lacewing Larvae

Green lacewing larvae work best at about 67–89°F with humidity of 30% or more.

How to Tell When Green Lacewing Eggs Are Ready to Hatch

Instead of counting the days, watch their color.

• Bright Green / Yellow-Green: Freshly laid or still deeply incubating.
• Gray: Mature and ready to hatch. Release them immediately at the first sign of graying or when the first few tiny larvae begin to wiggle out.

Pairing & Compatibility

For full-canopy-to-root-zone coverage, above-ground predators work the leaf surfaces, and soil-dwelling beneficials catch anything that drops into the growing medium.

Foliar Partners

• Amblyseius swirskii: thrips and whitefly eggs and nymphs
• Orius insidiosus (Minute Pirate Bug): a generalist that hunts thrips at every life stage plus mites and aphid eggs
• Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug Destroyer): for heavier mealybug loads
• Aphidius colemani / Aphidius ervi: aphid parasitoids that lay eggs inside live aphids
• Lindorus lophanthae or Aphytis melinus: dedicated scale control, since lacewing larvae go after scale crawlers but aren't a full solution for established scale populations
• Trichogramma spp.: parasitizes moth eggs before they hatch
• Predatory mites: controls pest mites, including the two-spotted spider mite
• Ladybugs (Hippodamia convergens): generalist predator for eggs and soft-bodied stages of pest insects

Soil-Dwelling Partners

Covering the pests where green lacewings don't reach.

• Hypoaspis miles (Stratiolaelaps scimitus): patrols the top layer of soil for fungus gnat larvae, thrips pupae, and other soil-stage pests
• Dalotia coriaria (Rove Beetle): a fast-moving generalist in the growing medium
• Beneficial Nematodes (Sf): target thrips pupae and fungus gnat larvae in the soil

Safe, Natural Pest Control

• Natural biological control with no synthetic pesticides
• Safe around people and pets when used as directed
• Safe for edible plants when used as directed
• IPM-compatible
• No protective equipment required

Pro Tips

• Ants & Lacewing Eggs: Ants protect aphid colonies and will eat lacewing eggs. Control ants before or alongside your release.
• Good Bug Diet: Maintaining your growing operation relies on well-fed beneficial insects as your natural defenders. By providing dependable food sources, you enhance their strength and effectiveness. Learn more here.
• Pesticides, even wetting agents, and spreader-stickers may adversely affect green lacewing survival. Broad spectrum and systemic insecticides are toxic to lacewings.
• Depending on the size and type of plants, the number and type of pests, other predator and parasite populations, and temperature, the frequency of releases may be affected.

CROPS
Vegetable Crops
Soft Fruit Crops
Ornamental Crops
Tree Nursery

USAGES
Greenhouses
Interiorscapes
Field Crops
Gardens
Orchards

Application Rates

These are general starting points. Actual application should be adjusted based on pest pressure, pest species, plant type, and infestation severity.

Application Method

• For sizes with hanging boxes, gently distribute the eggs and rice hulls into the boxes and hang them on infested plant limbs, out of direct sunlight.
• For 25k and larger (boxes not included), sprinkle the eggs and rice hulls directly over infested plants.

Hanging Boxes by Size

• 1k: 5 boxes
• 2.5k: 10 boxes
• 5k: 15 boxes
• 10k: 20 boxes
• 25k and larger: boxes not included

Eggs hatch in a few days to two weeks, depending on temperature, and are best hatched inside the original packaging. They turn gray shortly before hatching. If you can't release them right away, store them in a cool, dark place at 50–60°F for up to 48 hours. Cooling eggs that are close to hatching can lower the hatch rate, so release them as soon as you can, at the first sign of hatching.

What is a lacewing?
A lacewing is a common beneficial insect used in biological pest control. Only the larval stage actively hunts pests. Adults feed on pollen and nectar and lay eggs near aphid colonies.

Do lacewing larvae bite?
Lacewing larvae have small pincer-like mouthparts they use to grab prey, and they can pinch if handled directly, but they don't bite or sting people in any harmful way.

How long does the lacewing life cycle take?
Eggs typically hatch in a few days to two weeks, depending on temperature. Larvae then hunt for 2–3 weeks before pupating, and adults live another 4–6 weeks. A single generation can take roughly 6–8 weeks from egg to adult, depending on temperature.

Should I buy lacewing eggs, larvae, or adults?
Eggs are the more economical option for larger areas and work well for prevention or light pest pressure. Larvae are hatched upon or shortly after delivery. Adults don't eat pests. Instead, they lay eggs near pest populations, and those eggs hatch into larvae that feed.

Why didn't my lacewing adults control my pest problem?
Adults feed on flower pollen and nectar, not on pests. Green lacewing adults establish a new population by laying eggs near pest activity, so control comes once those eggs hatch into larvae. For immediate control, choose larvae instead.

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Thank you for shopping with us! Before placing your order, please review our Shipping Policy and Refund and Return Policy. By completing your purchase, you agree to these terms.

We do not provide recommendations on pesticide use. Products are sold for home use only, not commercial use.

QUALITY GUARANTEE

If your beneficial insects or other perishable products are not viable when delivered, email info@naturesgoodguys.com within 48 hours of delivery with your order number and a description of the problem. Photos may be requested. Approved replacements ship on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

• Open your package right away and check for storage instructions. Some products need refrigeration, and improper storage voids the guarantee.
• Ice packs help moderate temperature in transit and are not expected to arrive frozen.
• Some insects need time at room temperature before they become active, and many are hard to see without magnification.

SHIPPING

• Processing: 1 to 3 business days. Orders placed by 12:00 pm Pacific may process the same day, but this is not guaranteed.
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RETURNS AND REPLACEMENTS

Beneficial insects and other perishable products cannot be returned; they are covered by the Quality Guarantee above. Unopened garden supplies and tools can be returned within 30 days. Full details are in our Refund and Return Policy.

Replacements are not available for an incorrect shipping address, storage or use instructions not followed, or packages left uncollected after delivery.