優曇華（うどんげ）と呼ばれるクサカゲロウ科の卵（6月15日）

Jaja podwieszone na szypułkach złotookowatego (Chrysopidae) 

Chrysopidae

Cruz Quebrada/Portugal (21/04/2025)

Chrysopidae

Oeiras/Portugal (20/04/2026)

A freshly hatched Lacewing Larva! I was so fortunate to be able to witness this tiny guy become part of our world! The long hairs on their back will be used as velcro so they can stick all kinds of rubble to become a Thrash Bug! Quite a rare sighting to see them naked, this was one of my favorite encounters!

Each lacewing spends about 5 days maturing inside its cacoon, and then it cuts an opening in the top and emerges as a fully-developed adult.

Above: a common green lacewing emerging from its cocoon

Green lacewing larvae (genus Chrysopidae) are also known as "aphid lions," because they're voracious predators that often feed on aphids. They've also been known to prey upon caterpillars, leafhoppers, planthoppers, thrips, spiders, mites, and insect eggs, which is why they're widely used to help eradicate pests in agricultural contexts.

Once the lacewing nears the end of its larval stage, it builds a small cacoon out of silk and then tucks itself inside, allowing the pupal phase to begin. Its tiny green body is often partially visible through the thin, loosely-woven walls of the cacoon.

Above: a lacewing developing within its cocoon

These breathtaking photos of a lacewing climbing out of its cacoon were taken by a Danish photographer named Frederik Leck Fischer.

Above: the lacewing preparing to emerge

When the insect initially emerges, its wings and antennae are still compactly folded down against its body, and the wings have a dark, shriveled appearance that makes them almost unrecognizable.

Above: the fully-developed lacewing waiting for its wings to expand

The wings then gradually expand until they have reached their full size, which usually takes about an hour or two.

Above: the same lacewing just a few hours later

Fischer's photographs provide a stunning account of the entire process.

Above: close-up of a common green lacewing

This is a rewritten version of a post that I originally published three years ago.

Sources & More Info:

iNaturalist: Common Green Lacewing

University of California: Family Chrysopidae

Texas A&M: The Green Lacewing

Washington State University: Lacewings

Tennessee State University: Insect Predators: Green Lacewings (PDF)

A Green Lacewing found over most of Australia and some Pacific islands. Otherwise, basically identical to other Chrysopids.