How to Feed Lacewing Larvae

The larvae of the green lacewing, or Chrysoperla rufilabris, provide a non-toxic method of controlling plant pests such as aphids, thrips and white flies. Lacewing larvae can be purchased from nurseries, mail order suppliers and online. Propagating a sufficient number of lacewing larvae over the growing season for your plants requires establishing a breeding colony of green lacewings. This requires providing food for mature lacewings, which feed on nectar rather than insects.

Things You'll Need

• Green lacewing larvae
• Honeydew or similar product

Instructions

1. 

   Beneficial insects including the green lacewing consume aphids and other garden pests.

   Adult green lacewings feed on plant nectar and lay their eggs on plants that attract insects that their young can eat. Growing larvae, or baby lacewings, also called aphid lions, require protein for rapid growth, and consume large numbers of insects that feed on host plants.

   Releasing commercially grown lacewing larvae into garden areas plagued by insect pests provides an economical and environmentally safe method of controlling garden pests.

2. 

   Insect pests damage ornamental plants and food crops.

   Order lacewing larvae according to the size of your garden or greenhouse. One thousand larvae should be sufficient for a small garden or greenhouse. Lacewings thrive in humid conditions and do especially well in greenhouses, where they control mealy bugs in addition to aphids. Controlling pests on field crops requires approximately 5,000 lacewing larvae per acre.

3. 

   Lacewing larvae consume a variety of insects.

   Distribute lacewing larvae directly from their shipping container on infested plants throughout the garden or greenhouse. Disperse the lacewings throughout the target area, as they will consume one another if placed too densely. Refrain from using any type of chemical pest control after releasing the lacewings. Check the release area for a sufficient number of lacewings, and repopulate the area if needed.

4. 

   Adult lacewings feed on nectar and pollen in addition to insect pests.

   Order three more shipments of lacewing larvae for delivery at two-week intervals. Lacewing larvae mature and reproduce in four to six weeks. Releasing larvae every two weeks establishes a breeding colony of lacewings in your garden. Space constraints within a greenhouse may inhibit successful breeding. Supplementing mature lacewings' natural diet with a honeydew product may help keep the adult lacewings from dispersing in search of food.

5. After voraciously feeding for about ten days, lacewing larvae construct and emerge from a chrysalis in about twelve days as adults. Adult green lacewings are delicate light green insects with long transparent wings. Although the adults also feed on insects, they consume pollen and nectar. Gardens with abundant flowering plants are likely to maintain populations of lacewings. Order artificial food sources for adult lacewings through your insect supplier or green gardening suppliers. Although supplemental feeding can encourage lacewings to multiply, it cannot prevent all dispersal behavior common to adult lacewings.

Tips & Warnings

• Redistribute lacewings three times at two-week intervals

• Don't expect the lacewings to eradicate all insect pests. If they do so, they will disperse in search of food.

• Lacewing larvae resemble small reptiles with pincers. Although fearsome in appearance, they are harmless to humans and pets.

• Releasing too many lacewing larvae within a small area will cause the larvae to destroy one another.

• Insecticide residue or continued use of insecticides near lacewing larvae may kill the larvae.

• Providing supplemental food for adult lacewings does not entirely control the lacewings' instinct to disperse.

References

• The Beneficial Insect Company: Green Lacewing Larvae - Natural Aphid Control