The common green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) is a biological pest control superstar. While the nectar-sipping adults are famous for their delicate, emerald-green wings, their larvae are ferocious predators known as “aphid lions.” During their brief 2- to 3-week development, a single larva can devour hundreds of aphids and spider mites. To hunt safely, some larvae pile plant debris, lichen, and the hollowed-out corpses of their prey onto their backs. This bizarre “trash-packet” behavior provides perfect camouflage from both predators and prey. When they strike, they pierce victims with large, sickle-shaped mandibles, inject paralyzing enzymes, and liquefy the pest from the inside out. Interestingly, what we call Chrysoperla carnea is actually a complex of identical-looking “cryptic” species. Because they look indistinguishable, scientists identify them by their mating duets, which they sing by vibrating their abdomens against leaves (tremulation). Come autumn, the adults swap their brilliant green for shades of yellow, brown, or rosy-red to hibernate in leaf litter, reverting to green in the spring. During a bicycle tour through Sweden in June 2026, I often saw these stunning insects leaving fleeting green traces in the air. Yet, because they blend so seamlessly into the foliage, I only managed to capture few sharp photos of one of them.