Adult
lacewings are highly mobile and inhabit and reproduce in wheat. Lacewings that
inhabit wheat are predaceous only as larvae. Adults feed on aphid honeydew,
nectar, and pollen. Lacewing larvae feed on a variety of small, soft-bodied
arthropods, including aphids, plant bugs, thrips, mites, and the eggs and larvae
of Lepidoptera and Diptera. Lacewings are not considered to be highly effective
at controlling aphids because they lack the prey specificity usually associated
with highly effective aphid predators. However, they contribute to controlling
aphid infestations.
Above: Lacewing lifecycle, clik on picture to enlarge.
