Barber's Brown Lacewing
Sympherobius barberi
This record describes Sympherobius barberi (species). Recorded family: Hemerobiidae. Recorded order: Neuroptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very similar to S. amiculus , often only distinguishable by the lack of a distal radial crossvein.
Wikipedia reference for Sympherobius barberi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympherobius_barberi.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies)
- Family
- Hemerobiidae (Brown Lacewings)
- Subfamily
- Sympherobiinae
- Genus
- Sympherobius
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
transconcinental US (AL, AR, AZ, CA, DO, FL, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, OK, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, WI), south to Peru
Diet and Behavior
Diet: prefer coccids, esp. mealybugs
Life History
Three larval instars, the later instars are relatively immobile. A white cocoon of double structure (outer loose thread, inner compact structure) is constructed in protected areas.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Sympherobius barberi Banks 1903
About Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Neuroptera, the group containing Sympherobius barberi. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Neuroptera (lacewings, antlions, owlflies) includes ~6,000 described species. Green lacewing larvae are called 'aphid lions' - a single larva can consume up to 200 aphids per week.
Ecological role of the group
Antlion larvae build conical pit traps in sandy soil - an engineering feat studied by physicists for insights into granular mechanics. Adult lacewings are important pollinators of night-blooming flowers.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lacewings are commercially reared and sold as biological pest control agents. The global biological pest control market, which heavily features lacewings, was valued at $6.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $16.4 billion by 2033.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA IPM, biological control market research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Barber's Brown Lacewing (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Will Chatfield-Taylor; Additional contributions by cotinis , Mike Quinn , v belov , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Barber's Brown Lacewing
What is Barber's Brown Lacewing?
Barber's Brown Lacewing (Sympherobius barberi) is a species in the family Hemerobiidae, within the order Neuroptera.
How big is Barber's Brown Lacewing?
Forewing 3.56-5.69 mm
How do you identify Barber's Brown Lacewing?
Very similar to S. amiculus , often only distinguishable by the lack of a distal radial crossvein.
Where is Barber's Brown Lacewing found?
Range: transconcinental US (AL, AR, AZ, CA, DO, FL, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, OK, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, WI), south to Peru
What does Barber's Brown Lacewing eat?
The diet of the Barber's Brown Lacewing includes prefer coccids, esp. mealybugs.
What is the life cycle of a Barber's Brown Lacewing?
Three larval instars, the later instars are relatively immobile. A white cocoon of double structure (outer loose thread, inner compact structure) is constructed in protected areas.