Common green lacewing, Crisopa

Description:

It is an insect in the Chrysopidae family. The adults feed on nectar, pollen and aphid honeydew but the larvae are active predators and feed on aphids and other small insects. It has been used in the biological control of insect pests on crops. Adult green lacewings are a pale green colour with long, threadlike antennae and glossy, golden, compound eyes. They have a delicate appearance and are from twelve to twenty millimetres long with large, membranous, pale green wings which they fold tent-wise above their abdomens. They are weak fliers and have a fluttery form of flight. They are often seen during the evenings and at night when they are attracted by lights. Chrysoperla carnea was originally considered to be a single species with a holarctic distribution but it has now been shown to be a complex of many cryptic, sibling species. These are indistinguishable from each other morphologically but can be recognised by variations in the vibrational songs the insects use to communicate with each other, which they especially do during courtship.

Habitat:

Spotted during the night on a country house window.

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/60 sec.; f/32; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 90.0 mm. Flash fired