Description
Lacewings are aphid catchers par excellence. They feed on mite larvae and aphids. A female lays about 350 eggs near aphid colonies. This means that the descendants of an individual can together consume up to 200,000 aphids or 4,200,000 mite eggs. The lacewing nest box is therefore often used as a form of biological control.
The nest box consists of a straw-filled box with diagonally placed slat-shaped slots at the front and bottom. The striking red color is purposefully designed to attract lacewings. The box is placed as a wintering shelter. In the winter months, up to 90% of all lacewings die. Hanging a professional lacewing box can reduce this figure to 5%.
If the box is not immediately taken into use by lacewings, there is a real chance that ladybirds will occupy it.
