lacewing

noun

lace·​wing ˈlās-ˌwiŋ How to pronounce lacewing (audio)
: any of various neuropterous insects (such as genera Chrysopa and Hemerobius) having delicate lacelike wing venation, long antennae, and often brilliant eyes

called also lacewing fly

Illustration of lacewing

Illustration of lacewing

Examples of lacewing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Ladybugs, lacewings and other predatory insects can be released or encouraged to come in on their own. oregonlive, 9 Sep. 2023 Some pesticides can harm minute pirate bugs, lacewings and predatory mites or spiders, which are some of the very beneficials that help us in our fight against this and other pests. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2023 Introduction On warm summer nights, green lacewings flutter around bright lanterns in backyards and at campsites. Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 26 July 2023 Mary Alice and Terry encourage the presence of natural predators such as ladybugs and lacewings, whose larvae gobble up troublemakers like spider mites and aphids. Rhonda Fleming Hayes, Southern Living, 16 June 2023 The giant lacewing, or Polystoechotes punctata, is a large insect from the Jurassic Era. Emily Schmall, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2023 Skvarla and his colleagues eventually confirmed that the specimen was indeed a giant lacewing — which mysteriously disappeared from eastern North America in the 1950s. Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2023 Soon, the natural enemies — which include the lacewings, lady beetles, adult wasps, insect larvae, earwigs and birds — will arrive to assist us in aphid management. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2023 Lady beetles and lacewings have shown an appetite for feeding on the scale and displayed some efficacy in attacking it, Chen said, but not yet in a way that can halt its spread. Joe Heim, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lacewing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lacewing was in 1912

Dictionary Entries Near lacewing

Cite this Entry

“Lacewing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lacewing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lacewing

noun
lace·​wing ˈlā-ˌswiŋ How to pronounce lacewing (audio)
: any of various insects that have delicate lacelike wings, long antennae, and often bright eyes

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