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Project Noah Nature School
Chrysopidae family
Very small (about 5mm long), woolly-looking insect with a pale greenish-white head and brown pincers.
This guy was on a Brussels Sprout plant in our garden. When disturbed he would hunker down under his wool but would eventually get going again once he thought it was safe. Thanks to martinl for the ID, and to www.ozanimals.com for this fun fact: "This species covers itself in long white waxy threads from its prey (mealybugs?) giving it the appearance of a mealybug." Bit macabre, really.
Many lacewings are antlions as larvae and predators at ground level or slightly below. These stay on leaves covering themselves with fluff or twigs to look unappealing. The typical jaws are evident.
Spotted on Mar 27, 2012
Submitted on Apr 12, 2012
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