African Predatory Lacewing vs Giant Lacewing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Predatory Lacewing | Giant Lacewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysopa pudica | Polystoechotes punctata |
| Order | Neuroptera | Neuroptera |
| Family | Chrysopidae | Ithonidae |
| Size | 16-24 mm wingspan | 40-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| Regions | West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
African Predatory Lacewing
A robust lacewing found across tropical Africa in forested and cultivated areas. Adults and larvae both contribute to pest suppression.
Did You Know?
It is frequently collected in cocoa agroforestry systems where it helps control cocoa mirids.
Giant Lacewing
Once widespread across North America, it vanished from the eastern US by the 1950s. A single specimen was rediscovered in Walmart parking lot in Arkansas in 2012 after 50 years.
Did You Know?
This giant lacewing was thought extinct in eastern North America for 50 years — until a single specimen was collected at a Walmart parking lot in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2012.