What Do Lacewings Eat? Diet From Larva to Adult
Lacewings are small, delicate insects with a big appetite for garden pests, and that makes them easy to welcome once you know what they eat. The short answer to what lacewings eat is that their larvae hunt soft-bodied insects and eggs, while adults switch to nectar, pollen, and honeydew. That split diet is why lacewings help gardeners in two different ways, first as predators, then as pollinator-friendly visitors.
Lacewing Diet at a Glance
Lacewings are best known for their larvae, which are active predators with curved jaws built for grabbing prey. Adult lacewings do not hunt the same way, and many species feed on plant sugars instead of insects. This life stage difference matters because it changes where they live, what draws them in, and how they help the garden.
What lacewing larvae eat
Lacewing larvae eat soft-bodied pests and insect eggs. Their menu includes aphids, thrips, mites, whiteflies, mealybugs, small caterpillars, and the eggs of many garden insects. A single larva can consume a large number of prey during its growth, which is why gardeners value them as natural pest control.
What adult lacewings eat
Adult lacewings feed on nectar, pollen, and honeydew. Some species also take in extra moisture from plant juices or very small insects, but the main adult diet is sugary plant material. That means adults are more useful as garden visitors than as hunters, while still helping by moving pollen between flowers.
How Lacewing Larvae Hunt
Lacewing larvae are sometimes called aphid lions because they are efficient predators. They move with quick, searching steps, then seize prey with hollow, sickle-shaped mouthparts that pierce and drain the victim. Their bodies are built for ambush and speed, not for chewing plant material.
Prey they target in gardens
Larvae focus on pests that cluster on leaves, stems, and buds. Aphids are a top target, especially on roses, vegetables, and ornamentals. They also eat thrips on flowers, whiteflies under leaves, scale crawler stages, and spider mites. In a pest outbreak, lacewing larvae work in the same zones where damage appears, so they can reduce pressure before infestations spread.
Why larvae are so effective
Larvae are effective because they hunt constantly and do not stop with one meal. They spend their growing stage feeding, then molt through several stages before pupating. Their prey selection is practical for gardeners, since the insects they eat are the ones that sap plant vigor, spread damage, and distort new growth.
What Adult Lacewings Eat and Why Flowers Matter
Adult lacewings are not the main pest killers, but their diet still matters in the garden. Nectar and pollen give adults the energy needed for flight, mating, and egg laying. Honeydew, the sugary waste produced by aphids and other sap feeders, also attracts them to infested plants.
Best flowers for adult lacewings
Adults come to small, open flowers that make nectar and pollen easy to reach. Dill, fennel, cilantro, alyssum, yarrow, dill, cosmos, and dill family flowers are strong choices. Flat, clustered blooms work best because lacewings have delicate mouthparts and need accessible food sources. Planting a steady sequence of bloom times keeps adults in the yard longer.
How flowers support pest control
When adults have nectar and pollen nearby, they stay, mate, and lay eggs close to prey. That creates a local cycle, flower resources support adults, adults produce larvae, and larvae suppress pests. If you want lacewings working in a vegetable bed or flower border, keep some flowering plants nearby instead of clearing every bloom away.
Where Lacewings Live and What Attracts Them
Lacewings use gardens, meadows, hedgerows, and field edges where prey and flowers overlap. They shelter in dense vegetation during the day and become more active at dusk and night. Because they are light, soft-bodied insects, they avoid harsh spray residue, dry heat without cover, and landscapes with no insect prey left.
Simple ways to attract lacewings
- Plant small flowering herbs and natives with accessible nectar and pollen.
- Leave some mixed vegetation instead of stripping every plant bed bare.
- Reduce night lighting near garden edges, which can disrupt nocturnal activity.
- Allow a few aphid colonies on noncritical plants if you want larvae to stay nearby.
- Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides, including so-called natural sprays that kill everything on contact.
If you want lacewings as allies, the goal is not a sterile garden. The goal is a garden with flowers, shelter, and enough prey to keep the food chain active.
What Eats Lacewings
Lacewings are prey for many animals, especially when they are eggs, larvae, or resting adults. Birds eat adult lacewings and pupae. Spiders, assassin bugs, beetles, ants, and larger predatory insects attack larvae. Parasitic wasps also target lacewing stages by laying eggs on or in them.
Why lacewings have many predators
Their soft bodies and slow resting stages make them easy targets compared with hard-shelled insects. Eggs and pupae are the most vulnerable because they cannot run or defend themselves. Larvae protect themselves by moving fast and by grabbing prey first, but they still lose to larger predators in crowded habitats.
How this affects your garden
If you are encouraging lacewings for pest control, a diverse garden helps them survive. Dense plantings, layered flowers, and fewer pesticides support more lacewings through all life stages. Heavy disturbance, dust, and repeated spraying increase losses to predators and reduce the chances that lacewings remain in the area.
Using Lacewings for Natural Pest Control
Lacewings work best as part of a broader natural control strategy, not as a stand-alone fix. Their larvae handle soft-bodied pests well, but they need the right habitat and a steady food web to stay useful. You can support them with planting, shelter, and simple exclusion methods that protect crops without harsh chemicals.
Garden practices that support lacewings
- Plant nectar-rich flowers near vegetables and ornamentals.
- Keep insect prey available on a few nonessential plants, especially during early season buildup.
- Mulch lightly and avoid over-cleaning borders, which removes shelter.
- Use row cover on vulnerable crops when pests first appear, then remove it when flowers need pollination.
- Inspect leaves for aphids and whiteflies, then release or conserve lacewing larvae in the same area.
Natural methods that do not help lacewings
Strong essential oil sprays, repeated dusting, and broad insecticidal products can harm lacewing eggs and larvae. Diatomaceous earth is useful for crawling household pests in dry cracks, but it is not a good tool on flowers or foliage where lacewings feed and lay eggs. For lacewing-friendly pest control, use exclusion, hand removal, habitat planting, and targeted cleanup instead of blanket treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do lacewings eat aphids?
Yes. Lacewing larvae eat aphids aggressively and are one of the most useful natural enemies for aphid outbreaks. They also eat aphid eggs and other small soft-bodied pests on the same plants.
Do adult lacewings eat bugs?
Adult lacewings mainly eat nectar, pollen, and honeydew. They are not the main hunting stage. The larvae do the pest control work.
What flowers help lacewings stay in the garden?
Small, open flowers with easy nectar access help most. Good choices include dill, fennel, cilantro, alyssum, yarrow, and cosmos. These plants feed adults and encourage egg laying nearby.
What eats lacewings in the yard?
Birds, spiders, beetles, ants, assassin bugs, and parasitic wasps all eat lacewings or attack their eggs and larvae. Eggs and pupae face the highest risk because they cannot escape.