Lacewings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An insect belonging to the order Neuroptera, known for delicate wings and predatory habits, especially towards aphids and other pests
2. A type of winged insect characterized by its intricately veined wings and voracious appetite for small agricultural pests
3. Creatures in the Neuroptera order recognized for their lace-like wings, which aid in their role as natural pest controllers in various ecosystems

Etymology: "Lacewings" is simply the plural of "lacewing", so the history belongs to the singular: a compound of "lace" and "wing", describing the net-like pattern of veins that crisscross the insect's transparent wings. The name is a plain description rather than a coinage with a famous author, and the compound reads as a picture of the insect itself, its delicate wings looking like woven fabric. The word is possibly a calque, or word-for-word translation, of the scientific name for the group, Neuroptera, which itself combines Greek roots meaning "nerve" and "wing" in reference to the same veining. English speakers thus appear to have rendered the veins from a technical term into an everyday image of lace.

Synonyms: green lacewings, lacewing flies