Brown Lacewing

Sympherobius barberi

Brown Lacewings are similar to their green cousins but are a lovely brown color. They are gentle and help keep gardens healthy.

Habitat: Gardens and meadows

Appearance

The Brown Lacewing is a small, delicate insect with a slender, light to dark brown body. Its fragile, net-veined wings are also brown, often mottled, and held roof-like over its back, giving it a somewhat triangular shape when at rest. It has long, slender antennae.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderNeuropteraFamilyHemerobiidaeGenusSympherobius

Brown Lacewing

Interesting facts

Adult Brown Lacewings often drink sweet honeydew left by aphids, not just eating the aphids themselves.

Some lacewing larvae are nicknamed 'aphid wolves' because they are such fierce hunters!

Their eggs are tiny ovals, sometimes laid individually on short stalks or directly on plant leaves.

Though delicate, some species can survive chilly winters by finding sheltered spots to hide until spring.

Special abilities

Brown Lacewing larvae can devour hundreds of soft-bodied pests because of their strong jaws that help them control insect populations.

Brown Lacewings have mottled brown wings and bodies that help them blend perfectly with tree bark or dry leaves, making them hard to spot.

Brown Lacewings have long, sensitive antennae that help them detect prey and navigate in their environment.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 6-10 mm
Size: 3-5 mm
Lifespan: 20-40 days
Flight Speed: 1 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

Brown Lacewing larvae are expert hunters of tiny garden pests, while adults may also enjoy sugary plant sap.

Age differences: Larvae are strictly predatory, consuming many soft-bodied insects. Adults are also predatory but may feed on honeydew and pollen.

Primary Foods

aphids
mealybugs
spider mites
honeydew
pollen

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

hunts

cotton aphid

Aphis gossypii

Larvae eat these soft-bodied pests.

hunts

potato aphid

Macrosiphum euphorbiae

A common food source for larvae.

eaten by

Great Tit

Parus major

Birds often prey on adult lacewings.

eaten by

flower crab spider

Misumena vatia

Spiders can ambush unwary lacewings.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Insectivorous

Discover clever creatures that specialize in munching on insects, playing a super important role in keeping bug populations in check. They are nature's tiny bug vacuums!

Nocturnal

Explore the secret world of animals that come alive at night! They are wide awake when it's dark, using their amazing senses to find food and play.

Pollinator

Meet the busy helpers of the plant world! These creatures carry pollen from one flower to another, helping plants make seeds and grow fruits and vegetables.