Today’s find is the egg of a green lacewing.
Lacewing eggs are pretty easy to identify because they are on the end of a hair-like stalk.
A few months ago I found a good example of a lacewing cocoon. Time to make an green lacewing life cycle infographic!
Green lacewings are considered to be beneficial insects because the larvae are predators of scales, whiteflies, aphids, small caterpillars and other potentially pesty insects.
The pupa stage forms within a cocoon that is usually hidden on a branch or twig. The lacewing cocoon may be mistaken for a spider egg case because the silk resembles spider web.
The adults are light green with delicate wings and golden eyes. If disturbed from a leaf they will fly during the day, but are more active at night. The females generally lay their eggs at night.
We’ll probably be seeing more and more of these as our weather warms and the wildflowers start to bloom. Just a few more weeks.
 by Elaine Pascoe
