Illustration of lacewing
: 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
Examples of lacewing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Helpful insects like ladybugs and lacewings naturally control aphids, so attract them with flowers and don’t disturb them.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 June 2025
However, the sugars in a molasses spray caused an increase of beneficial insects such as adult lacewings, lady beetles, weevil parasitoids, big-eyed bugs, minute pirate bugs, and adult hover flies.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
As members of the aster family, tansy blooms consist of hundreds of tiny flowers packed tightly together that support parasitoid wasps, small native bees, honeybees, lacewings, and syrphid flies.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2025
Both the adult lady beetle and its crocodile-shape larvae feed on aphids, as do the larvae of lacewings and syrphid flies.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lacewing
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 June 2025
However, the sugars in a molasses spray caused an increase of beneficial insects such as adult lacewings, lady beetles, weevil parasitoids, big-eyed bugs, minute pirate bugs, and adult hover flies.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
As members of the aster family, tansy blooms consist of hundreds of tiny flowers packed tightly together that support parasitoid wasps, small native bees, honeybees, lacewings, and syrphid flies.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2025
Both the adult lady beetle and its crocodile-shape larvae feed on aphids, as do the larvae of lacewings and syrphid flies.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lacewing
Cite this Entry
“Lacewing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lacewing. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lacewing
noun
lace·wing
ˈlā-ˌswiŋ 
: any of various insects that have delicate lacelike wings, long antennae, and often bright eyes
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share