Representatives of different types of insecticides were tested for toxicity to larvae of a common green lacewing,Chrysopa carnea(Stephens). This insect is a predator of many phytophagous arthropods including the tobacco budworm,Heliothis virescens(F.). Most organophosphate insecticides and the carbamate, methomyl, were highly toxic to the predator. Another carbamate, carbaryl, a formamidine, chlordimeform, several pyrethroids and several organochlorines were much less toxic toC. carnea. In comparison with the tobacco budworm, phosphorothionate (P=S) insecticides were highly selective against the predator. In contrast, synthetic pyrethroids and endosulfan were highly selective against the tobacco budworm. Most other insecticides were of similar toxicity to both species or slightly more toxic to the predator. The relative usefulness of the different insecticide types in integrated control programs is discussed.