Barb found this green lacewing on the window screen and had me photograph it. I sent it to iNaturalist and came up with the first ranked choice of a red-lipped green lacewing, Chrysoperla, rufilabris. None of the identifying anatomical features below that they described could be seen on this view.
"C. rufilabris are distinguished from other members of the genus found in North America by the broadly red genae, pointed apex of the fore wing, black gradate crossveins, and spinellae on the male genitalia."
I
put it in a bug box and left it in the refrigerator for several hours,
then photographed it close up. It measured just 9 mm in body length. A
quick Google brush-up on insect anatomy reminded me that the red genae is
the "lateral part of the head of an insect or other arthropod below the level of the eyes." "Red-lipped......Bingo!"
Lacewings are members of the Chrysopidae family. The larvae eat soft bodied insects and specialize on aphids, earning the nickname "aphid lions." The adults' diet varies by species, some being predators and others consuming pollen and nectar. I couldn't find any other details specific to my red-cheeked friend.
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On a related subject, the Seek phone app in the iNaturalist family is a great tool. It doesn't report data unless you are registered with iNaturalist so it is safe for children to use. I just discovered the scan feature which makes identification possible without even having to take a picture. It was able to identify 16 of the native species in our yard ranging from columbine to elderberry and prickly pear cactus.
