lacewing fly

7.3

A small delicate insect with thin net-like wings whose young eat garden pests like aphids

noun
/ˈleɪsˌwɪŋ flaɪ/

: mosca de alas de encaje

A lacewing fly can often be found in gardens, where its larvae help control aphid populations.

Examples

Many farmers encourage the presence of lacewing flies as a natural form of pest control.
The delicate green wings of the lacewing fly shimmer in the sunlight.
The lacewing fly is known for its delicate wings.
I saw a lacewing fly hovering near the flowers.
A lacewing fly can often be found in gardens, where its larvae help control aphid populations.
Many farmers encourage the presence of lacewing flies as a natural form of pest control.
The delicate green wings of the lacewing fly shimmer in the sunlight.

Synonyms

lacewing

vslacewing fly

1 8.9

A small insect with thin, net-like wings whose young eat aphids and other garden pests

is the longer form that specifies it as a flying insect

Surface Forms

lacewing fly singular

lacewing flies plural

Morphology

lacewing + fly

The compound is compositionally transparent: 'lacewing' names an insect with lacy/gauzy wings and 'fly' is a general insect term, so the combined form directly denotes an insect with delicate wings. There is no idiomatic or metaphorical shift, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Lacewing fly comes from the insect's very thin, net-like wings that look like lace, and the word wing shows it is a flying bug. Because its larvae eat aphids and other garden pests, the name also brings to mind a delicate insect that 'helps control pests'.