Download Order: NeurOptera – Brown and green lacewings

INSECTS: Neuroptera
INSECTS: Neuroptera
Order: Neuroptera – Brown and green lacewings
5 species, 2 endemic
Insects with four lacy wings that have a complex network of veins, which are held tent-like over the back when at
rest. Adult lacewings are usually found on bushes and trees, they are attracted to light at night and so can often
be found in and around houses. Adults and larvae are predatory, the larvae with long curved forward-projecting
mouthparts, feeding mainly on aphids and scale insects and are so very beneficial.
Family Hemerobiidae – Brown lacewings (ease of ID: 1)
1 species, 1 endemic
The St Helenian brown lacewing Micromus atlanticus (8-9mm) is fairly common in the central, moister parts
of the island. Its larva has ‘rosettes’ of bristles on its back, onto which it attaches its faeces and cast skins into a
‘backpack’ which it flips into the face of a predator if threatened.
Family Chrysopidae – Green or goldeneye lacewings (ease of ID: 4)
4 species, 1 endemic
Green lacewings all have light green bodies, sometimes with markings and with highly metallic green, gold or
bronze eyes. They attach their eggs to a leaf on a long stalk to deter predation, mainly by ants. The larvae are more
elongate and do not carry the 'backpack' of the brown lacewing larvae. The endemic Exiled green lacewing
Chrysoperla exul (body 11mm) has a characteristic scatter of reddish markings around the eyes and on the
thorax that are visible with the naked eye. It lives mainly in the damper uplands and the Millennium Forest.
Green lacewing:
larva (left) [LF] , egg (right) [LF]
St Helenian brown lacewing Micromus atlanticus (top) [LF] , larva
with ‘backpack’ (left) [RSK] , larva without ‘backpack’ (right) [LF]
Exiled green lacewing Chrysoperla exul [LF]
Three southern African species are less common; the Modest green lacewing Chrysoperla pudica (often
with brown spots on the thorax) and Zastrow's green lacewing Chrysoperla zastrowi, both live in drier areas,
and the Scaly green lacewing Borniochrysa squamosa is mainly in the wetter uplands. All require microscope
examination for identification.
Modest green lacewing Chrysoperla pudica [RSK]
Zastrow’s green lacewing Chrysoperla zastrowi [P&MA]
Scaly green lacewing Borniochrysa squamosa [LF]