Brown Lacewing (John Obermeyer, Purdue University)
Common Name: Brown Lacewing
Order: Neuroptera
Family: Hemerobiidae
Pest Status: This is a very beneficial insect predator and should be protected.
Appearance: Adults are red-brown to brown-gray. The fore wings are narrowly oval with a slightly pointed apex.
Life Cycle: Females lay their eggs singly on fir needles or between bud scales in early spring. Eggs hatch in approximately 10 days, depending on the temperature. When the larvae reach 1/4 -inch in length, they spin a silken cocoon and pupate on the underside of a leaf. There are one to 10 generations per year.
Where to Collect: Brown lacewings often can be found on the bark or branches of trees, usually in forests or orchards.