草蛉科（学名： Chrysopidae）属脉翅目下一个大科，共有约85属，全球共有1300-2000种物种。

草蛉科的昆虫翼展从6毫米到超过65毫米，其中最大的昆虫在热带。它们的特点在于翅脉上的宽肋脉区域，上面有跨脉。身体通常为亮绿色到绿褐色，很多物种的复眼是显着的景色。翅膀通常为半透明，上面有淡淡的彩虹色．有些具有绿色的翅脉或亮褐色图案。草蛉属（Chrysopa）和其他属的物种能从前胸释放出气体。

成虫的前翅基部有鼓膜器，使它们能听得更清楚。有些物种在听到蝙蝠的超声波时有逃避行为－在飞行时它们关闭翅膀并降落到地上。草蛉也采用底部或者身体振动的方式来互相沟通，尤其是在求偶时。几乎相同形态的草蛉有时更容易通过求偶信号来区别。比如，南欧的Chrysoperla mediterranea与北欧Chrysoperla carnea看起来几乎完全一样，但是它们求偶声音差别非常大，一个物种的生物不会对另一个物种的振动有反应。 幼虫的背部更细，胸部有显着的拱起，两侧有硬毛。

Green lacewings are insects in the large family Chrysopidae of the order Neuroptera. There are about 85 genera and (differing between sources) 1,300–2,000 species in this widespread group. Members of the genera Chrysopa and Chrysoperla are very common in North America and Europe; they are very similar and many of their species have been moved from one genus to the other time and again, and in the nonscientific literature assignment to Chrysopa and Chrysoperla can rarely be relied upon. Since they are the most familiar neuropterans to many people, they are often simply called "lacewings". Since most of the diversity of Neuroptera are properly referred to as some sort of "lacewing", common lacewings is preferable.