lacewing

Thân thiện

A green lacewing rests on a leaf in the garden.

Definition

Noun: 1. A type of insect: A lacewing is any of numerous insects belonging to the families Chrysopidae (green lacewings) or Hemerobiidae (brown lacewings). They are characterized by having two pairs of delicate, transparent, and highly veined wings that resemble fine lace. Both the adults and, especially, the larvae are considered beneficial because they feed on agricultural pests like aphids.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The gardener released lacewings into the greenhouse to control the aphid population naturally.
  • A green lacewing landed on the window, its wings shimmering in the sunlight.
  • The larvae of the lacewing are sometimes called "aphid lions" due to their voracious appetite.

Advanced Usage

• "Lacewing fly": An older or alternative common name for a lacewing, emphasizing its flying ability.
  • The old gardening book referred to beneficial "lacewing flies".

Variants and Related Words

• Green lacewing (n): A common type of lacewing (family Chrysopidae) that is typically green in color.
  • Green lacewings are often used in organic pest control.
• Brown lacewing (n): A type of lacewing (family Hemerobiidae) that is usually brown.
  • Brown lacewings are also effective predators of small insects.
• Lacewing larva (n): The immature, wingless, and often predatory stage of the lacewing.
  • The lacewing larva is a more aggressive hunter of aphids than the adult.

Synonyms

• Neuropteran (n): A member of the insect order Neuroptera, to which lacewings belong. This is a more formal, scientific term.
  • Lacewings, antlions, and owlflies are all neuropterans.

Học thuật

Noun

1. any of two families of insects with gauzy wings (Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae); larvae feed on insect pests such as aphids

Từ đồng nghĩa

• lacewing fly