Sluggin' Along

Brown Lacewing Larva

Lacewings belong to the order Neuroptera ("net-winged insects"). Patrick Coin, aka Cotinis, of Durham, NC, magnified a specimen's wing to show the net-like construction:

The life cycle of a lacewing is illustrated below:

The campodeiform larvae of Neuroptera are terrestrial and predaceous. In some respects, they resemble beetle larva (order Coleoptera). Though I've never captured an adult lacewing on film, I did get some shots of a larval Brown Lacewing (suborder Hemerobiiformia, family Hemerobiidae). Without more larval specimens and some adults for reference, I can't identify the species at this time. If you can, feel free to comment.

Characteristics of larvae: "Thin, flattened, smooth worm-like body very tapered at both ends. Thin, sharp-looking legs. Shorter sickle-like mouthparts." (NC State)

Remember, Brown Lacewings are beneficial insects in your garden, as they eat the aphids that can destroy your plants. So show some love to these little guys!

References:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/61 (Neuroptera)
http://bugguide.net/node/view/265426 (Hemerobiidae larvae)
http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxontree/id16852/ (BioLib taxonomic tree)
http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/brown_lacewings.htm (Brown Lacewings of Florida)
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/brown_lacewing.html (Natural Enemies Gallery)
http://www.entomology.umn.edu/cues/Web/279Insecta.Neuroptera.Hemerobiidae.pdf (Univ. of Minnesota)
http://www.biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/predators/Hemerobius.html (Cornell Entomology)
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~dorr/Insects/Predators/Lacewing_Brown/brown_lacewing.html (NC State)

Cribellate Egg Sacs

Three of our Cribellate Orb Weavers (Uloborus glomosus) have mated and laid their eggs, wrapping them up securely in a sac that resembles their own body shape. If you get too close, the mother will turn protectively towards the sac. Can't wait till the eggs hatch!

Specimen #1:

Specimen #2:

Specimen #3:

How many ants does it take to carry a kudzu bug?

Evidently, three. But even then it's not easy.

Biological Warfare

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20130518/NEWS10/305180014/Researchers-ready-test-wasp-fight-against-pervasive-Kudzu-bugs

So...they want to introduce gnat-sized wasps to the area to battle the kudzu bugs. But what will kill the wasps? And what will kill whatever they bring in to kill the wasps? It'll just go on forever. They should never have brought the kudzu bugs in in the first place, and now they're going to make it worse!

Apparently we laypeople have a choice: either fend off hordes of stinky kudzu bugs, or fight swarms of tiny stinging wasps!

A New Generation

Most of the adult kudzu bugs have left our yard, but a few remain. However, our main trouble now is the numerous eggs the adults laid during "Kudzu Con." As you can see, the newly hatched baby kudzus take after their parents in their affinity for "huddling."

And this is merely a sample of the clutches of eggs all over our house!