Green lacewing larvae vs. bird cherry-oat aphid

Make sure to at least watch the end.
Lacewing larvae are often called "aphid lions" because they are known for attacking and eating aphids. They use their sickle-shaped, hollow mandibles to pierce prey and suck out their body fluids. Adult lacewings have net-like, lacy wings that are held like a tent over their back.

Bird cherry-oat aphids are pests of small grains such as wheat, oats and barley. They damage plants by using their piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap. More importantly for growers, these aphids vector barley yellow dwarf virus, which is a disease of small grains.

Created by: Ian Grettenberger
Check out the rest of the videos on the "Pests and Natural Enemies" Channel!

Green lacewing larvae (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)
Bird cherry-oat aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae, Rhopalosiphum padi)

This video is part of a USDA Northeast SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) Graduate Student Grant (http://www.nesare.org/)

Music used: Dark Skies of Doom by Footage Firm (freestockmusic.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons