green lacewings

Green lacewings, as the name suggests, are usually green. The bodies are long, slender, and usually bright green to greenish brown. Some are brown, especially overwintering adults of some Chrysoperla species.

The eyes are golden or copper colored.

The forewings are usually greenish, translucent, and slightly iridescent, and they have many veins and crossveins. The costal field, the area between the costal vein (C) on the leading edge of the wing and the second longitudinal vein, the subcostal vein (Sc), is wide and crossed by many unforked crossveins. The first undivided branch of the radial vein (R₁) and the Sc vein are not fused at the wingtip. The second branch of the radial vein (Rs) is unbranched or at least appears to be unbranched. The wing appears hairless, but short hairs on the margins and on the veins can be seen under magnification.

The larvae of some species appear humpbacked, with a prominent bulge on the thorax. Others have long bristles on their sides that collect debris, including the remains of aphids they have eaten. This is thought to be a form of camouflage, protecting them from birds.

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, XX/XX/XXXX).

Common

Green Lacewing (Chrysopidae)
Andree Reno Sanborn

Green Lacewing (Chrysopidae: Chrysoperla) Grooming after Eating
Carl Barrentine

Green Lacewing (Chrysopidae: Chrysopa oculata) on Wall
Carl Barrentine

Macro - Lacewings (Chrysopidae)
Herpboy Soma

Mike Poeppe
7/6/2025

Location: near Houston, MN

Mike French
8/24/2021

Location: Milford Township, Brown County 

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota