Elegant Brown Lacewing vs Dusky Green Lacewing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Elegant Brown Lacewing Dusky Green Lacewing
Scientific Name Sympherobius elegans Chrysopa dorsalis
Order Neuroptera Neuroptera
Family Hemerobiidae Chrysopidae
Size 5-8 mm wingspan 14-20 mm wingspan
Habitat Orchards Heathland
Diet Wood Feeders Predators
Regions Europe, North Africa Southern Europe, Turkey
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Elegant Brown Lacewing

A tiny, delicate brown lacewing found in bark crevices of broadleaved trees. One of the smallest hemerobiid species in Europe.

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Did You Know?

At barely 5 mm wingspan, it is small enough to hunt insects living inside bark fissures.

Dusky Green Lacewing

A green lacewing with a dark dorsal stripe running along the abdomen. Prefers wooded habitats across southern Europe.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few European lacewings that strongly prefers forested over open habitats.