Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

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Brown lacewing (406)

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Relates to: Biocontrol

Photo 1. Adult brown lacewing, Micromus tasmaniae.

Photo 2. Translucent egg of brown lacewing, Micromus tasmaniae.

Photo 3. Eggs of brown lacewing, Micromus tasmaniae, fastened to a spider web.

Photo 4. Larva of a brown lacewing, Micromus tasmaniae. Note, the pincer-like mouth parts.

Photo 5. A pupa of a brown lacewing, Micromus tasmaniae.

Summary

• Worldwide. Recorded widely in Pacific islands. Adults and larvae prey on aphids, but also scales, mealybugs, thrips, psyllids, whiteflies, and other small insects, and mites.
• Adults light to dark brown, wings tent-like over body, long antennae and large eyes. Larvae up to 10 mm long, slender, flattened, with pincers. Adults hold and chew their prey; larvae hold, pierce and suck out contents of prey using pincer-like mouth parts after injecting venom (pincers are hollow). Both can eat up to 25 aphids a day.
• Eggs laid singly or in batches (not on stalks) on undersides of leaves, especially where odours of aphids (or other insects) detected. For instance, if aphids detected in centre of lettuce, females lay eggs on outer leaves so prey is available when eggs hatch.
• Management: in Australia and New Zealand, Tasmanian brown lacewing reared as a biocontrol of greenhouse pests. Note, lacewings very susceptible to broad-spectrum pesticides (e.g., chlorpyrifos, most neonicotinoids, pyrethroids).

Common Name

Brown lacewing

Scientific Name

Brown lacewings belong to the family Hemerobiidae. Green lacewings belong to the family Chrysopidae (see Fact Sheet no. 270). There are many genera and species; this fact sheet uses Micromus tasmaniae as an example (Photo 1).

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