• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

• Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

• Insects (Class Insecta)

• Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

• Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Order Neuroptera)

• Lacewings and Allies (Suborder Hemerobiiformia)

• Green Lacewings (Family Chrysopidae)

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Family Chrysopidae comprises the green lacewings, a widespread family of delicate insects within the order Neuroptera. With more than 1,200 described species, green lacewings occur on every continent except Antarctica and inhabit forests, grasslands, agricultural fields, gardens, wetlands, and urban landscapes. Adults are easily recognized by their slender green bodies, large golden or copper-coloured eyes, long threadlike antennae, and two pairs of transparent, intricately veined wings held roof-like over the body. While many adults feed on nectar, pollen, and honeydew, the larvae—commonly called aphid lions—are voracious predators that consume aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, mites, thrips, caterpillars, and other soft-bodied insects.