Beneficial Lacewings for the Garden
Copyright: 2006 Marilyn Pokorney
Many insects are beneficial insects and are friends for the
garden. These predator insects eat pest insects that would
otherwise destroy plants and the fruit and vegetables
growing in the garden. Lacewings are but one of the
beneficial insects.
Green lacewings are common in most of North America. Adults
feed only on nectar, pollen, and aphid honeydew, but their
larvae are active predators.
Adult green lacewings are pale green, about one-half to
three-fourths inch long, with pale green wings, long
antennae and bright, golden eyes. Females lay oval shaped,
pale green eggs at the end of long silken stalks which turn
gray in several days. The one half inch long larvae are
yellowish-gray or brown, are very active, have well-
developed legs and large pincers with which they use to suck
the body fluids from prey.
They eat many common garden pests including several species
of aphids, spider mites (especially red mites), thrips,
whiteflies, eggs of leafhoppers, moths, leafminers, small
caterpillars, beetle larvae, mealybugs, and the tobacco
budworm.
Lacewing larvae eat almost as many aphids as do lady beetle
larvae. Because of this the larvae are sometimes called
aphid lions. Each lacewing larva will consume 200 or more
pests or pest eggs a week during their two to three week
growth period. The larvae then pupates by spinning a cocoon
with silken thread. About five days later adult lacewings
emerge to mate and repeat the life cycle. The adult will
live about four to six weeks.
An adult female may deposit more than 200 eggs in a good
habitat. Nectar, pollen, and honeydew is required for their
reproduction. If these food sources are not available
adults may disperse to where these requirements are met.
To introduce green lacewings into a garden start early in
the season as soon as pest insects are detected. Release
1,000 eggs/200 sq. ft of garden area. Release them every
ten to fifteen days until pests are no longer seen. And
never use any pesticides or other synthetic chemical in the
garden at this time.
Lacewings work well with other predator insects including
Lady Bugs, Spider Mite Predators and Trichogamma.
As an added bonus, when adult lacewings visit flowers for
nectar, they help pollinate plants increasing fruit,
vegetable, and seed production.
For more information on lacewings visit:
http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/lacewings.htm
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
See Also:
All About Organic Gardening
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