Usually, when cotton-like fluff or dust appears on the window screens at home, the natural reaction is to clean it off. However, before rushing to clean, it's best to take a close look—sometimes these are gifts from nature itself! On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, an excited netizen captured a row of tiny, hair-like objects on their window screen and proudly shared online: "I used to only envy others, but this time it's my turn!"
Those fortunate enough to have houseplants shared in the Facebook group "Foliage Plant Enthusiasts Exchange" some interesting details about their screen doors. They found a line of small, white balloon-like objects stuck to the mesh. The original poster exclaimed, "At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks and was about to clean the screen, but upon closer inspection, wow! Our home has been chosen!"
Some curious netizens asked, "What exactly is this?" and "Is it a flower or an insect? I don't understand." It turns out these are not hairs but the eggs of green lacewings. One user joked, "A type of egg-laying?" Those who understood were full of envy and congratulated the original poster: "I heard you have to burn incense for this to happen," "So lucky!" "Hope the lacewings come lay eggs at my place too," "Jealous," and "Awesome! Congratulations!"
Why is it worth celebrating when insects appear on window screens? Experts explain: "These are green lacewing eggs. Their larvae are fierce natural enemies of many plant pests, just like praying mantises, making them beneficial insects." According to Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture, green lacewing larvae—also called "aphid lions"—prey on eggs and larvae of small insects and are native natural enemies. For example, on tea trees, they feed on aphids, whiteflies, scale insects, and moth larvae, making them versatile biological control agents.
In agricultural applications, lacewing egg clusters are placed on plants to let these beneficial insects protect crops by eating harmful pests. This is why plant owners online are so eager for lacewings to lay eggs in their homes—to have natural pest control right at hand.
