lacewing larvae in genus Ceraeochrysa

Collected by Andrew Springer, Valley Springs Ca, 27 June 2022.

This is a debris-carrying larva, but not the ant carrier that we discuss elsewhere on this site.

According to lacewing expert Dr. Catherine Tauber, this larva is in the genus Ceraeochrysa – a very large group with many species of significant value in the biological control of crop pests. Based on these photos, she thinks it might be Ceraeochrysa valida, She says that, in the USA, this species has been reported from Florida and Texas, and also Baja Calif, Mexico, but not previously from California, USA.

So, Dr. Tauber is interested to confirm the identity.