While these beautiful and delicate looking insects are harmless to humans, they are very capable predators that always seem to be hungry. And since they tend to feed on other species of insects that are considered garden pests, they are a welcome sight for gardeners. The larvae are called “aphid lions” which sometimes pile the carcasses of their victims on their backs and/or cover themselves with other debris as camouflage.
Size: Adults (head to wing tip, excluding antennae) average about 3/4 inch (19 mm).
Photo by: Kristi DuBois on 6/17/22 near Clinton, MT