Micromus variegatus

Length about 8 mm. Known as a brown lacewing, its wings have several dark brown markings.

• small brown lacewing ~ 8mm
• only three branches to the radial vein
• hind wings with three brown marks

It usually lives in dense herbage but is sometimes attracted to lights.

Peak time is August.

Larvae are extremely voracious and feed on both nymphs and adult aphids.

Common and widespread throughout most of Britain but becomes more local further north and is quite rare in Scotland.

Frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were approximately 43 records for this species according to the 'Checklist of Neuroptera and allies in VC55' published in 2018.