Fruition Garden Journal
video tutorials, tried-and-true tips + our latest learnings to surround you with abundance all season long
Our Favorite Beneficial Insect: Have You Heard of the Lacewing?
Friends, I garden not only for the beauty and abundance, not just for the smell of fresh lavender or the satisfaction of good, hard work.
I garden to be in awe of the world.
Today, lacewings are the embodiment of such awe for me.
What is a lacewing?
Chrysopa carnea (there's a clue!) is one of our finest beneficial insects native to the Northeast, very likely the most voracious insect in your garden. For breakfast, lunch and dinner they dine on your aphids, thrips and cabbage looper caterpillars.
Here are four reasons you want lacewings in your garden:
1. An Unmistakable Appetite for Aphids
Adult lacewings are darling with their sweet lime green bodies, sparkling gold compound eyes and dramatic, sweeping wings like exquisite, translucent stained glass. Adult lacewings feed on nectar, pollen and the honeydew of aphids, like ants.
Lacewing adults are gorgeous as well as nocturnal, so they're rare to see. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
Their larvae,...
Get Our Free Seed Starting eBook!
For years we’ve been asked to demystify seed starting and here it is: Rise & Shine: Starting Seeds with Ease shares everything you need to start seeds successfully at home in 25 beautiful pages with easy-to-follow instructions and insightful tips for the novice and experienced grower alike.
Categories
All CategoriesRecent Posts
