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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera) » Lacewings and Allies (Hemerobiiformia) » Green Lacewings (Chrysopidae) » unidentified eggs
Photo#310134
Eggs (?) on stalks
Copyright © 2009 R. Berg

Eggs (?) on stalks
Alameda County, California, USA
July 25, 2009
Size: minute
Another entry in the "What the heck is that?" category. Tiny white lumps on threadlike stalks attached to conifer needles.
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Contributed by R. Berg on 25 July, 2009 - 11:26pm
Last updated 29 August, 2009 - 10:11pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… R. Berg, 29 August, 2009 - 10:11pm login or register to post comments

Adaptive?
Producing the stalk requires the mother to invest more nutrients in egg laying. Does this structure have a benefit that offsets its cost? Maybe it keeps predators off that can't fly and are too small to reach the eggs while standing on the twig?
… R. Berg, 26 July, 2009 - 7:17pm login or register to post comments

 
That's the idea
Ants, in particular, are the predators often cited as the reasons for various egg adaptations. It has also been suggested that these stalks keep the lacewing larvae from eating each other.
… Charley Eiseman, 26 July, 2009 - 7:29pm login or register to post comments

Neuroptera
The only eggs on stalks I've seen are Neuroptera, like Lacewings or Owlflies or Antlions. Lacewings are by far the most common, so I suspect that's what we have here. Of course, there could be others I don't know about...
… Chuck Entz, 26 July, 2009 - 12:26am login or register to post comments

 
Green lacewing eggs
Eggs of owlflies, antlions, brown lacewings, etc. are not stalked.
… Charley Eiseman, 26 July, 2009 - 4:17pm login or register to post comments

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