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:

© 2006 Cotinis, Durham, NC

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)