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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.