There are 2-4 generations per year. Brown lacewings are somewhat smaller than green lacewings. Adult brown lacewings are predatory. Although many species are more common in low-growing vegetation than in tree canopies, adults are common in apple trees in our area. Brown lacewings often have a lower developmental threshold temperature than their aphid prey, making them useful early in the season.
Adults fly earlier in the evening than green lacewings.
Females start to lay eggs when 3-7 days old. Eggs lack the stalk found in green lacewing eggs. Eggs are usually deposited on apple buds or twigs having aphid colonies. Females may lay 100-460 eggs each. The first abdominal segment is the same size as the second and third.