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<i>Chrysoperla carnea</i> (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a voracious predator of soft-bodied insects such as juveniles of scale insects and the black scale <i>Saissetia oleae</i> (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is an important pest of several crops, such as the olive tree. However, the predatory efficiency of <i>C. carnea</i> on <i>S. oleae</i> has been unstudied yet. The present work aimed to study the functional response of larvae of <i>C. carnea</i> fed on <i>S. oleae</i> nymphs. In a controlled laboratory environment, increasing densities of <i>S. oleae</i> second and third nymph stages were offered to newly emerged specimens of the three larvae instars of <i>C. carnea</i>. After 24 h, the number of killed <i>S. oleae</i> was recorded and the functional response of <i>C. carnea</i> was assessed. The three larval stages of <i>C. carnea</i> displayed a type-II functional response, i.e., killed prey increased with higher <i>S. oleae</i> densities up to a maximum limited by the handling time. The attack rate did not significantly differ among the three instars while the maximum attack rate was significantly higher for the third instar. The handling time of the first larval instar of <i>C. carnea</i> was higher than that of the third instar. Our results demonstrated that <i>S. oleae</i> could act as a food resource for all larval stages of <i>C. carnea</i>. Furthermore, the third larval stage of the predator was the most efficient in reducing <i>S. oleae</i> densities. These results suggest that <i>C. carnea</i> larvae could contribute to <i>S. oleae</i> control in sustainable agriculture.