The Prismatic Lacewing is a rare flying Critter that spawns in the Surface Hallow from dusk until midnight after Plantera has been defeated. When killed by a player, it summons the Empress of Light; death from non-player sources other than Fallen Stars will not result in summoning.
The Prismatic Lacewing can be caught with a Bug Net. Releasing it from the inventory (with ⚒ Use / Attack) and killing it will still summon the Empress of Light (though it will quickly disappear if released outside of the Hallow). Only one Lacewing can be naturally spawned at a time. Because it can only spawn between dusk and midnight, its spawn is limited to between the times of 7:30PM and 12:00AM. It can also be used to craft a Prismatic Lacewing Jar.
It is one of the few critters that can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer.
What happens when a player kills the Prismatic Lacewing?
When a player kills the Prismatic Lacewing in Terraria, it summons the Empress of Light. This rare flying critter can be caught with a bug net and then released and killed by the player to summon the boss. However, it's important to note that the Prismatic Lacewing will quickly disappear if released outside of the Hallow biome. So, if you're planning a prismatic lacewing farm, make sure it's within the Hallow!
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How can the Prismatic Lacewing be caught?
The Prismatic Lacewing can be caught using any bug net. Once caught, it can be released and killed by the player to summon the Empress of Light. However, be careful when releasing it outside of the Hallow biome as it will despawn almost instantly. So, if you're planning a prismatic lacewing farm, make sure you're in the right biome!
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Why might the Prismatic Lacewing not be spawning in my game?
The Prismatic Lacewing in Terraria might not be spawning in your game due to a few reasons. Firstly, it only spawns in the Hallow biome, specifically on Hallowed grass, Pearlstone Blocks, Pearlsand Blocks, and Pink Ice Blocks. Secondly, it only appears from dusk until midnight. Lastly, it only starts to spawn after the boss Plantera has been defeated in your current world. So, if you're having trouble finding this elusive critter, make sure all these conditions are met!
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What is the relationship between the Prismatic Lacewing and the Empress of Light?
The Prismatic Lacewing has a significant relationship with the Empress of Light in Terraria. This critter is the key to summoning the Empress of Light boss. When a player kills a Prismatic Lacewing, it triggers the appearance of the Empress of Light. However, players can also capture Prismatic Lacewings using a Bug Net, allowing them to choose the time and place to fight the Empress. It's important to note that if a Prismatic Lacewing is released outside of the Hallow, it will disappear quickly. So, the Prismatic Lacewing serves as a unique link between the player and the Empress of Light encounter.
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What conditions are required for the Prismatic Lacewing to spawn?
The Prismatic Lacewing, a rare flying critter in Terraria, spawns under specific conditions. It appears in the surface Hallow biome from dusk (7:30 PM) until midnight. However, this only happens after the boss Plantera has been defeated in the current world. If you're having trouble spotting one, remember that the Prismatic Lacewing can be detected by the Lifeform Analyzer. If you don't have a surface Hallowed biome in your world, you can create one using a Clentaminator with Blue Solution.
The Lacewing is classified in-game as an enemy so that no other monsters would be able to kill it and subsequently summon the boss. However, player summons will not actively target it, though they may kill it by accident while attacking another enemy.
Using a Bug Net, you can keep it in your inventory to later release it at a more appropriate time, such as to fight the Empress of Light when better prepared.
The Lacewing will despawn almost immediately if released outside the Hallow, but can still be killed to summon the Empress of Light if done fast enough or if placed directly onto a damaging projectile.
A Lacewing can only be damaged by a player if they are close enough and will appear translucent if the player is far away. This is likely done to prevent accidentally summoning the Empress of Light while the Lacewing is off-screen.
Lacewings can spawn during events such as the Lunar event, even in pillar zones.
The Lacewing can be killed by bees or traps, which will not summon the Empress of Light.
If the player hits a Lacewing without killing it, then lets bees or traps kill it, the Empress of Light will spawn.
Similarly, because it is considered an enemy, its spawn rate is increased during the Blood Moon event and can be easily farmed using a Bloody Tear.
Building a platform roughly 35 tiles above a Hallow biome while under the influence of a Water Candle, you can expect 3-8 Lacewings to spawn, provided you are there from 7:30PM to 12:00AM.
If you do not have a surface Hallowed biome in your world, you can use a Clentaminator with Blue Solution to create one.
Trivia
The Bestiary entry for the Prismatic Lacewing: "Should one of these luminescent beings perish in the chaos of night, a sleeping tyrant is rumored to violently awaken."