#neuroptera

[herpsandbirds]

who's this charmer on my doorframe? (uk)

Insect ID – UK:

Hello, yes, yes, hello, I believe that this is a Hook-wing Lacewing (Drepanepteryx phalaenoides), family my Hemerobiidae.

[onenicebugperday]

Giant antlion larva and adult, Palpares immensus, Myrmeleontidae

Found in southern Africa

Photos 1-2 by alexdreyer, 3-5 by hamishrobertson, 6 by frankgaude, and 7 by eugenemarais

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Giant Antlions (Palpares immensus): these enormous antlions have been known to attack geckos and other small reptiles

The images above depict the larval stage of Palpares immensus, which is one of the largest antlion species in the world.

This article provides more information about the unusual behavior of this species:

The larvae live freely in sand and are ambush hunters. They are voracious predators and feed mainly on other arthropods, but have been known to attack geckos and, in one case a small adder. They are unable to feed on these reptiles and usually die as a result of not being able to extract their jaws from the vertebrate prey.

These antlions can be found in sandy, arid environments throughout southern Africa.

The adult form of Palpares immensus is also depicted in the images below:

Sources & More Info:

Biodiversity and Development Institute: Palpares immensus

Global Biodiversity Information Facility: P. immensus

Animal Life: Giant Antlion Larva

What's That Bug?: Uncovering Antlion Habitats

[celestial-games]

Any green lacewing enjoyers? :]

[crevicedwelling]

as promised, the owlfly (family Ascalaphidae) I found in Singapore!

if you’re familiar with antlions, these work similarly, except instead of building a pit they rely on camouflage to hide from predators and ambush prey. a beautiful combination of lichen-y fringes and wickedly sharp mandibles.

it blended in perfectly with the mossy rope railing, even tucking back its mandibles at a 270° angle so that they lay hidden beneath the head.

it was one of several successful “oh-wait-was-that-a-bug-let’s-go-back-and-check” moments I had, and was glad I doubled back to see it for what it was! my first owlfly, now I’ve got to find an adult, which are dragonfly-like aerial predators

[bowelfly]

inkwash bugs

[aegann]

wasp mantidfly girl

Climaciella brunnea

[dailybugfacts]

hi!! can you tell me anything about wasp mantidflies? i love them!

You have subscribed to DAILY BUG FACTS

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TODAY'S FACT IS

Did you know that the Wasp Mantidfly (Climaciella brunnea) is more commonly found in swarms rather than as individuals? Many of them will gather in one spot to feed and breed, all attracted by pheromones.

This fella lives up to its name, looking like a cross between a wasp and a mantis, plus it can fly. It is not, however, closely related to wasps or mantids and is instead closer to laceflies.

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Photo by Jason JD King on iNaturalist

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Wasp? Mantis? Fly? The wasp mantidfly is none of the above! This species is actually a member of the family neuroptera, or nerve-winged insects, which is also host to a range of other falsly named insects including owlflies (neither owls nor flies), antlions (neither ants nor lions) and lacewings (wings are not made of lace). However, the wasp mantidfly does predate on other arthropods, and will adopt a striking posture when threatened.

(Image: A wasp mantidfly (Climaciella brunnea) by Ken Childs)

[ljsbugblog]

Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides).

[vgbugs]

Pinzo'jrahrrrn - CrossCode

Another antlion larva! Well, it's so heavily mutated that not even the bestiary entry seems to be entirely sure that it is supposed to be one. I love the abdomen covered in glowing pustules, they really help sell that it's a weird, mutated creature.

Honestly I'm pretty biased towards earth-type monsters. Might be why there are so many antlions.

[herpsandbirds]

Pleasing Picture-winged Antlion (Glenurus gratus), family Myrmeleontidae, order Neuroptera, TN, USA

Antlions are related to lacewings and mantidflies (This is not a dragonfly).

photograph by Kirsten Swadley Feinberg

[onenicebugperday]

Spill-footed lacewing larvae, Myiodactylinae, Nymphidae, Neuroptera (related to owlflies and antlions)

Found in Australia

Adult in the same subfamily:

Photos 1-4 by normfarmerimages, 5 by tjeales, 6-8 by doggy48, 9-10 by sofiazed1, and 11 (adult) bystreglystendec

[spidersflower]

LOOK we were bringing in the ivy plants when I saw a pretty lacewing <3. I believe this is a comanche green lacewing, Chrysoperla comanche

also, forgive the crude photos, I was in a rush </3

it's always such a treat to see one!

[coolbugs]

Bug of the Day

We are in peak bug-finding season - I have taken over 800 photos so far this month! At least this horrible hot and humid weather is good for something...

(From top to bottom: Say's mantidfly (Dicromantispa sayi), marsh fly (Tetanocera sp.), and firefly (Photuris sp.)

[crevicedwelling]

I found an insect last week I’ve wanted to see for as long as I’ve known they existed: a mantisfly! this one is Zeugomantispa minuta, the only species commonly observed where I live.

mantisflies (family Mantispidae) are named for their resemblance to mantises (order Mantodea) but themselves belong to the order Neuroptera, being related to lacewings and antlions. as adults, they closely resemble mantises, and live a similar lifestyle capturing prey with raptorial forelegs.

compared to this Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis), there are a few anatomical differences you might notice, but the biggest difference between the two is definitely their reproductive strategy.

mantises lay egg cases and develop from nymphs that resemble adults. being neuropterans, mantispid juvenile are larvae. but mantispid larvae, unlike their lacewing and antlion relatives, aren’t predators, they’re parasites! Zeugomantispa follow the strategy of starting as a leggy, highly active larva that on hatching immediately seeks out a spider egg sac to burrow into, growing into a plump grub quite different from its original appearance after feeding on the eggs. other mantispid larvae attach themselves to the adult spiders, and wait for their host to produce a sac; still others parasitize beetle or wasp larvae.

here’s a great photo of a mass of Z. minuta eggs hatching into their sac-seeking first instars!