Identifying natural enemies

Identifying natural enemies

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Brown lacewing - Hermerobiidae
Identifying natural enemies > lacewings > brown lacewing

Adults: Reddish brown, thin body. Large, membranous, brown wings. Long antennae and a long, thin body. Smaller than the green lacewing. Length 6-12 mm.	Eggs: Several hundred oval eggs per female, laid on the undersides of leaves; eggs not on stalks like green lacewing eggs.	Larvae: Similar in appearance to green lacewing larvae,except head is similar in width to the pronotum. Gray to brown and alligator-like. Large, sickle-shaped mandibles.
Pupae: Pupation occurs inside a light brown, loosely woven cocoon on plant material. Left: Brown lacewing pupa Diet: Larvae and adults feed on aphids, caterpillars, beetle larvae and insect eggs.

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This information was developed for the publication Identifying Natural Enemies in Field Crops by Mary Gardiner, Christina DiFonzo, Michael Brewer and Takuji Noma, MSU Extension bulletin E2949.

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12/21/06