Our Top CHRYSOforce™ R – Generalist Predator

CHRYSOforce™ R – Generalist Predator

Aggressive green lacewing larvae for fast knock-down of aphid, mealybug, and soft-bodied pest outbreaks

What it targets

Chrysoperla rufilabris is a green lacewing whose larvae growers reach for when an aphid population is climbing faster than a parasitoid program can catch it. The vendor lists many aphid species, many mealybug species, spider mites, many thrips species, whitefly eggs and juveniles, and the eggs of several other soft-bodied pests as accepted prey. The famous nickname — aphid lions — comes from how a single larva will work a colony.

Use CHRYSOforce™ R for knock-down on confirmed hot spots, and pair it with a specialist when the pest is already identified: Aphidius colemani for small green-peach and melon aphids, Aphidius ervi for the larger potato and foxglove aphids, or Aphidoletes aphidimyza when temperatures are mild and the colony is concentrated. Lacewing larvae aren't picky about aphid species — that's exactly the advantage when you've got multiple species mixing in the same crop. Note: C. rufilabris does not control root-feeding aphids.

Green lacewing larva (Chrysoperla rufilabris) attacking a small insect on a leaf — A *Chrysoperla rufilabris* larva — the "aphid lion" stage — running down prey on a leaf. A single larva can consume around 100 aphids before pupating.

How it works

Only the larvae are predatory. Adults feed on nectar, pollen, and honeydew, then lay eggs on stalks — that hair-thin pedicel under the leaf keeps siblings from cannibalizing each other before they disperse. A female can lay 400+ eggs across her life, dropping them near aphid colonies so the larvae hatch onto food.

Once hatched, a lacewing larva will take up to 50 aphids per day. It stays active in low light and in cooler temperatures — useful when greenhouse mornings start cold or interior-scape light is patchy. Optimal larval performance sits at 67–89°F with relative humidity at 30% or higher. Adults are not predatory; they're useful in tree and orchard plantings because they fly into the canopy and lay eggs where aphids already are, but the working knock-down comes from the larvae.

Two adult green lacewings (Chrysoperla rufilabris) with transparent wings on foliage — Adult green lacewings (*Chrysoperla rufilabris*) — recognizable by the gold-green eyes and lacy wings. Adults aren't predatory but lay eggs near pest colonies.

Crops, environments, and climate

Crops it supports

Ornamentals Hemp / Cannabis Vegetables Soft fruits Tree nurseries

Environments

Greenhouses Indoor facilities Fields Orchards Gardens

Storage

Do not cold-store the larvae — release the same day you receive them. Eggs can hold briefly: if you can't release within 24 hours, keep them out of direct sun in a protected area and watch the hatch cues described below.

Instructions of use

Eggs — bottle with rice hulls

Release eggs when newly hatched larvae are visible moving in the container. Eggs may already be hatching on arrival; in summer the larvae emerge sooner, but in any season hatching takes no more than three days at around 80°F. Rotate the bottle gently to separate clusters before sprinkling. Eggs are ready for field release when membranes are dull gray, abdominal bands on larvae are distinct, eyespots are clearly visible, and at least 1% have hatched. Sprinkle the rice-hull mix over targeted plants — spread it out, don't dump it. For persistent pressure, repeat every one to two weeks.

Eggs on a card — 5,000 viable eggs per sheet

Each card holds at least 5,000 viable eggs and food, divided into 30 segments. Tear or cut along the perforation. Release as soon as larvae start hatching from the eggs — eggs turn from green to gray just before hatch. Hang segments near the pest infestation, protected from direct sun. Ant control is critical: ants will be attracted to the eggs and food. Eggs continue to hatch over 24–48 hours; you can move segments after about 12 hours to spread dispersal. Repeat every two weeks if pressure persists.

Larvae — bulk bag, bottle, or hexcel frame

Eggs are incubated at the insectary and arrive already hatched. Larvae come mixed with buckwheat for easy distribution — sprinkle the contents over the target area the same day they arrive. Bulk bags include a plastic scoop. For the hexcel frame format: peel back one side of the organdy material an inch at a time and tap larvae out onto the crop, then peel the other side. Lay the empty frame next to a plant so any remaining larvae can crawl out on their own.

Monitoring & advisories

Monitor for

Lacewing larvae are small, fast, and hide. The best window to spot them is in the evening.
The strongest signal that CHRYSOforce™ R is working is the absence of pests a few days after release — not the visible presence of the predator.
Stalked eggs under leaves, especially near aphid colonies — a sign adults have established and are reproducing on-site.

Advisories

Control ants before releasing — they defend aphid colonies from predators to protect the honeydew.
Adults need pollen, nectar, or another suitable food to breed and lay eggs. WHEAST™ works as a supplement.
Does not control root-feeding aphids. The best curative there is an approved mycoinsecticide labelled for aphids applied to the root zone.
Larvae don't fly — release them where the pests actually are. Hard-to-reach crops (hanging baskets, scattered hot spots) are a poor fit for larvae alone.
Larvae will bite people if handled. Not medically significant, but worth a glove if you're sensitive.

Release rates — for conventional crops

Pressure level	Rate	Cadence
Preventive routine	1–3 per 10 sq. ft.	Monthly, as needed
Low light pressure	2–5 per 10 sq. ft.	Bi-weekly, 2–3 times
Medium step up	4–8 per 10 sq. ft.	Weekly, 2–4 times
High outbreak	1 per sq. ft.	Bi-weekly, 3–5 times
Maintenance hold-down	1–2 per 10 sq. ft.	Tri-weekly, indefinitely
Garden small scale	60–90% of rates listed	As above
Acre+ field scale	20–50% of rates listed	As above
Rates above are for larvae. Using eggs? Multiply the calculated rate by five. Using adults? Divide the calculated rate by four.

⚑

Cannabis Alert

Conventional release rates are usually not sufficient for cannabis growers. We recommend you double the rate or contact us for personalized help.

Life cycle

Chrysoperla rufilabris moves through egg → three larval instars → pupa → adult. Adults can live four to six weeks; only the larval stages are predatory. Larvae can travel four to five kilometres before pupating — one reason a small release covers a surprising area.

Egg

3–6 days · on stalked pedicel

Larva (3 instars)

2–3 weeks · predatory

Pupa

~5 days · silken cocoon

Adult

4–6 weeks · 400+ eggs/female

See it in action

Disclosures

Live-product policy. Beneficial Insectary works to guarantee live delivery of fresh organisms. Replacements or credits are offered for compromised shipments when issues are reported within 24 hours of receipt — and before any organisms suspected of viability issues are released. Don't discard the product; you may be asked to return the shipment for analysis.

Establishment of biocontrol agents. Many variables — pesticide applications, watering practices, storage, cultural and physical controls — affect BCA and pest populations across crops. Some agents need a steady pest food source, others need alternate food (pollen, nectar), others have specific photoperiod requirements. Because of these variables, long- or short-term establishment of BCAs cannot be guaranteed after release, and refunds, discounts, or credits are not offered on products that have already been released.