Green Lacewing

Description:

The body is about 1/2” long, slender and a pleasing light green to yellowish green in color. The wings are clear with pale green veins and are slightly iridescent. The adults feed primarily on nectar, pollen and honeydew. They have yeast in their digestive tracts that aid in breaking down nutrients from these food sources. Adult green lacewings are prey for a number of other animals including bats, birds and predaceous insects. They have good hearing, with hearing organs located at the base of the forewings. When they detect the ultrasonic signals of bats searching for prey, they exhibit defensive behavior by closing their wings in mid-flight and dropping to the ground. Their green coloration helps them hide from predators among plants.