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Originally Posted by Dogghound  Yes Chryopidae larva. The "case" is made from prey that it has eaten i.e aphids. The empty skins are put around its body to aid camouflage  |
another reason they do it is to avoid attack by ants. Black ants (a some other species) farm the aphids for the mildew they produce and protect the aphids from there predators, attacking them until they leave the plant. The lacewing lays its eggs on the plant on the end stalks where the ants cant find them (it also helps stop the lavae eating each other before they've all hatched!). Then when the larave hatches it starts to feed on the aphids, sucking then=m dry with its jaws. Then its sticks whats left of the aphid and/or the lacewings poo on its back. So then when a guarding ant comes along all it detects with its antennae is another aphid and it leaves the lacewing larvae alone. Wonderful thing nature
