Lacewing egg cases

Description:

Lacewings lay their eggs on stalks to prevent their larvae eating each other. Thin tough silken egg stalks that are strong yet flexible loft green lacewing eggs safely out of the reach of marauding ants. For extra protection, the high-protein silk egg stalks are also coated with oily ant repellent chemicals. Interestingly, the egg stalk silks are very different from green lacewing cocoon silks. Textile buffs are intrigued, as egg stalk silks rapidly solidify after being secreted as liquid droplets that are extruded into thin strong fibers swaying like palm tree trunks topped with lacewing eggs.

Habitat:

Habitat yard on Lake Belton.

Notes:

Lacewings (green and brown) are important predators in many agricultural systems worldwide. They are marked by their longevity (nondiapausing adult green lacewings live 2.5-3 months), high fecundity and fast developmental rates. Lacewings are general predators, being less specific to aphids than some other predators. They are often most important when other aphid predators are inactive. In addition to aphids, lacewing larvae feed on mites, thrips, soft scales, lepidopteran eggs and other soft-bodied prey.