Ladybird vs Lacewing

Submitted by julia on Sat, 3rd Nov 2012, 7:35pm

I normally think of ladybirds and lacewings in the the same catagory of 'helpful' insects who eat food crop pests such as aphids.

I had not realised that lacewing larvae also occasionally eat adult ladybirds until we witnessed the devouring of this ladybird by two lacewing larvae. We couldn't understand why the ladybird didn't just walk, or fly, away if it felt under threat. It seems like the lacewing's venom must have paralysed the ladybird before it realised what was happening.

The first lacewing was joined by another and between the two it took 3 hours to complete their meal; the entire beast except the wingcases. There are more photos in the gallery.

 

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