This insect was on my daughter’s leg. It’s just a little lobster.
Answer
Dear Roel,
this is the larva of a lacewing (order Neuroptera, family Chrysopidae); I suspect that this lacewing larva ended up on your daughter’s leg purely by accident.
The lacewing larvae can be recognized by the two large sickle-shaped jaws that are clearly pointed forward. The larva therefore has biting mouthparts, in contrast to the adult lacewing. It has licking sucking mouthparts that are used for the absorption of food (honeydew and pollen).
The larvae are very useful as predators in nature. For this reason, they are also grown by a number of companies (Koppert, Biobest and others) and used in various greenhouses for the biological control of aphids. These larvae are real “killing machines”; per day, a single larva can kill and partially consume up to 50 aphids.
kind regards,
Hans
Answered by
Hans Casteels
identification of pest insects in agriculture and horticulture, stock goods and homes
Burg. van Gansberghelaan 96 box 1 9820 Merelbeke
http://www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be
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