Best time to see: May to mid Sep
Key facts
Insects named after their transparent wings, useful as pest controllers because of their taste for aphids
The young (larvae) suck the juices from aphids; adults also eat aphids and other small insects
The largest group (Chrysopa) has 14 species in the UK and are green; another group has smaller, brown bodies
Recognition
Adults up to 3cm long, with bright green bodies (usually) and transparent veined wings
Young (larvae) are similar in shape to ladybird larvae, dull brown with darker spots and mottlings
Larvae are usually found moving around on vegetation, sometimes camouflaging themselves with aphid bodies or moss
Lifecycle
Females lay eggs at the end of a thin thread of silk; up to 30 eggs/day and 300 in total – more than their body weight
After gorging themselves on aphids, the larvae spin a cocoon around themselves in the soil from where they pupate
Over-winter as adults, readily using houses or artificial shelters of corrugated cardboard to hibernate
© Tony Gunton