Apart from occasional ornamentation, the body coloration of most chrysopid species is basically green. This is generally regarded as a protective adaptation to remain invisible to potential predators on green vegetation. But not all « green lacewings » are green, and some even change colour during their lifetime.
Interspecific variation : the largest genus, Mallada Navás, contains a few species with brown body coloration. These species seem to share ecological traits with brown or yellow species in other genera.
Intraspecific genetic variation : is illustrated in Mallada clathratus (Schneider), which includes individuals with green or yellow body colours.
Colour change during the adult lifetime of individuals is exemplified in two ways : i) obligatory ontogenetic colour change in Chrysoperla congrua (Walker) in the southern hemisphere, ii) diapause induced colour change in the Chrysoperla carnea-complex in the northern hemisphere.