Green Lacewings - 1,000 Larvae - 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

Hatching on arrival. Pest control that starts within a day or two.

Need fast, active pest control? Green lacewing larvae, nicknamed "aphid lions," arrive just as they begin to hatch, timed so they emerge on your plants instead of in the shipping box. Release them straight onto affected plants and they go to work on aphids, whiteflies, mites, thrips, and other soft-bodied pests.

While the green lacewing eggs are economical for prevention or light pest pressure, they come with a wait. Depending on temperature, eggs take anywhere from a few days to two weeks to hatch. We incubate the eggs before they ship, so instead of waiting days or weeks for a hatch, you'll see a few larvae on arrival and the rest emerge within a day or two. Lacewing larvae are cannibalistic, so timing the hatch this way keeps them from eating each other on the way to you.

What Green Lacewing Larvae Are

The larva is the hunting stage of the green lacewing, a beneficial insect common across North America. The adults are the delicate green insects with lacy, see-through wings you might notice near porch lights on summer evenings. The larvae look nothing like their parents. They're small, flattened, grey-brown and striped, and built like miniature alligators, with a pair of curved, pincer-like jaws out front. They don't sting and aren't harmful to people, pets, or plants, though they may give a slight pinch if handled.

How Lacewing Larvae Hunt

Lacewing larvae are active, roaming generalists. They don't wait for prey. They crawl leaf to leaf and seize pests with their hollow jaws. Because they eat such a wide range of soft-bodied insects and eggs, one release can knock back several pest problems at once. They're also competitive with each other. When prey runs short, larvae will turn on one another, so spreading them evenly across your plants gets you the most coverage and the most pest control.

When to Use Larvae

• Active infestations: pests are visible and damage is already showing
• Hot spots: a single plant or bed that needs targeted, immediate help
• Kick-starting a program: release larvae for immediate knockdown, then follow with eggs for ongoing waves of control

Where Larvae Fit in the Life Cycle

Egg → larva → pupa → adult.

The larval stage is the only one that eats pests, lasting roughly 2–3 weeks before the larva spins a cocoon and pupates. Adults emerge feeding on nectar and pollen, and they can lay eggs near pest colonies to start a new generation.

Pairing & Compatibility

Lacewing larvae cover a lot of ground above the soil, but no single predator covers every pest in every zone. Pairing them with specialists and soil-dwellers closes the gaps.

Foliar Partners

• Green Lacewing Eggs (Hanging Cards or Rice Hulls): follow up a larval release with eggs to keep new hunters hatching in the weeks ahead
• Amblyseius swirskii: thrips and whitefly eggs and nymphs
• Orius insidiosus (Minute Pirate Bug): hunts thrips at every life stage, plus mites and aphid eggs
• Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mealybug Destroyer): for heavier mealybug infestations
• Aphidius colemani / Aphidius ervi: aphid parasitoids that lay their eggs inside live aphids
• Lindorus lophanthae or Aphytis melinus: dedicated scale control, since lacewing larvae take scale crawlers but won't clear established scale
• Trichogramma spp.: parasitizes moth eggs before they hatch into caterpillars
• Predatory mites: pest mite control, including the two-spotted spider mite
• Ladybugs (Hippodamia convergens): generalist predator for pest eggs and soft-bodied stages

Soil-Dwelling Partners

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

Supplemental Diet

Lacewing larvae turn on each other when prey runs short. The Green Lacewing Larvae Diet gives them a backup food source: each card is loaded with Ephestia moth eggs, a nutritious food that helps keep larvae fed and working when pest numbers are low. Hang one card per plant within 1 week of receipt and replace as needed. Once hung, each card stays viable for up to 10 weeks.

Safe, Sustainable Pest Management

• 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 Larvae: Ants farm aphids for their honeydew and defend colonies from predators, including lacewing larvae. 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.

Temperature Range

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

Release Instructions

• Release on the day your order arrives. A few larvae will already be hatching, and the rest will emerge on your plants within a day or two.
• Open the container and gently sprinkle the larvae and carrier material over infested leaves, focusing on pest colonies.
• Spread them across multiple plants or areas rather than releasing all of them in one spot.
• Set the open container at the base of, or inside, an infested plant so any remaining larvae can crawl out on their own.

Release on the day your order arrives. Once larvae hatch, they'll start eating each other if held in the container, so get them onto your plants as soon as you can. If a short delay can't be avoided, hold the container out of direct sunlight at 70°F or warmer until hatching begins. Do not store hatched larvae at room temperature, as they will rapidly cannibalize each other.

Why choose larvae instead of lacewing eggs?
Larvae are incubated so they hatch within a day or two of arrival, while eggs need days to weeks depending on temperature. Choose larvae when pests are already causing damage, and eggs for prevention or ongoing coverage over larger areas.

How fast do lacewing larvae start working?
Within a day or two. A few larvae are already hatching when your order arrives, and the rest emerge on your plants and start searching for prey right away.

Do lacewing larvae bite?
Their pincer-like jaws are made for grabbing small insects. They may give a slight pinch if handled, but they don't sting and aren't harmful to people.

Why can't I see the larvae after releasing them?
Lacewing larvae are small, well camouflaged, and constantly on the move, often on the undersides of leaves. Fewer visible pests over the following days is the best sign they're working.

Will ants interfere with lacewing larvae?
Ants often "farm" aphids for their honeydew and will defend colonies from predators. If ants are active on your plants, control them before or alongside your release for best results.

STORE POLICIES

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.
• Overnight: ships Monday to Thursday, and Friday for addresses with Saturday delivery, excluding holidays.
• Second Day: ships Monday to Wednesday, and Thursday for addresses with Saturday delivery.
• USPS: ships Monday to Friday.
• We do not ship to PO boxes.

Some products are harvested on set days, and we may hold shipments during extreme weather to protect product quality. We will contact you if your order is delayed significantly.

CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS

Please contact us within 30 minutes of placing your order to change or cancel it.

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.