Green Lacewing Larvae - Description

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

Soil-Dwelling Partners

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