Neuroptera

net-winged insects, lacewings, antlions, mantidflies, owlflies

Suborder Guides

2

is an order of holometabolous insects comprising approximately 6,000 , commonly known as net-winged insects or lacewings and their allies. The group includes lacewings (Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae), antlions (Myrmeleontidae), mantidflies (Mantispidae), owlflies (), and several other . possess four membranous wings of similar size with dense, net-like venation that gives the order its name. The group first appeared in the Permian period and diversified through the Mesozoic, with some extinct lineages evolving remarkably large, patterned wings. Neuroptera is grouped with Megaloptera and Raphidioptera in the clade .

Myrmeleontiformia by (c) Kostas Zontanos, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kostas Zontanos. Used under a CC-BY license.Hemerobiidae by (c) William Brockelsby, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by William Brockelsby. Used under a CC-BY license.Calomantispinae by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Neuroptera: //nʊˈɹɒptərə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

distinguished from other insect orders by the combination of four similarly-sized membranous wings with dense reticulate venation, chewing mouthparts, and soft bodies. Distinguished from related Megaloptera (alderflies, dobsonflies) by generally smaller size and more delicate build; Megaloptera have larger bodies, prominent in males, and less dense wing venation. Distinguished from Raphidioptera (snakeflies) by the absence of an elongated prothorax ('neck'). Within , are distinguished by form (clubbed in , long and in most others), body shape, wing pattern, and foreleg structure ( only in Mantispidae). Larvae identified by mandible structure, body form, and : antlion larvae have large, curved jaws for pit-digging or elongated bodies for free-living species; larvae have debris-carrying ; spongillafly larvae are aquatic and associated with freshwater sponges.

Images

Habitat

occupy diverse terrestrial including forests, grasslands, and shrublands; many are associated with vegetation where they hunt or seek nectar. Larval habitats are more specialized: most are terrestrial in soil, leaf litter, or on vegetation; antlion larvae occur in sandy or loose soils where pit-building construct traps; spongillafly larvae (Sisyridae) are aquatic in freshwater systems with sponges or bryozoans; some Ithonidae larvae are root feeders. The aquatic-terrestrial is critical for with aquatic larval stages.

Distribution

distribution with on all continents except Antarctica. Highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Approximately 6,000 described species worldwide. The order has been present since the Permian, with fossil evidence from Siberia, Australia, and extensive Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits in China and elsewhere. Regional faunas vary considerably: 106 species recorded from Ukraine, with ongoing range expansions of Mediterranean species northward; southern Africa represents a major evolutionary center for antlions and related .

Seasonality

activity varies by and climate. Many species are active in spring and summer; some extend into autumn. In temperate regions, adults of many species are active from late spring through early fall. Light-trapping studies indicate activity patterns in numerous species. Some mantidflies emerge between May and October, with peak abundance in June-August. Larval stages may overwinter, with development rate dependent on temperature and availability.

Diet

Larvae of most are specialized . Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae, and Coniopterygidae larvae feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects; some used in . Antlion larvae capture ants and other small arthropods in pit traps. Spongillafly larvae (Sisyridae) feed on freshwater sponges and bryozoans. Mantidfly larvae in Mantispinae are of spider . diet varies: many are predatory, some feed on nectar, others do not feed at all. Spongillafly adults are , consuming mainly dead arthropods with aphids as the only live prey.

Host Associations

Life Cycle

Holometabolous development with complete . laid on vegetation, soil, or other substrates; mantidflies deposit eggs on short filaments on leaf undersides. Larvae are specialized or with diverse morphologies and . First instar spongillafly larvae are free-floating stages. Larval development duration depends on temperature and food availability. occurs in silk cocoons incorporating soil or debris; in Myrmeleontidae and , the tenth abdominal segment is modified into a retractile for cocoon construction. emerge by cutting through the cocoon with their . Some require one year to complete development; others may have multiple annually.

Behavior

Larval are highly specialized. Antlion larvae (Myrmeleontidae) construct conical pit traps in sand by flicking sand with their and elongated ; they flick sand at prey to prevent escape. larvae (Chrysopidae) actively carry debris including prey remains on their backs for camouflage ('junk bugs'). Mantidfly larvae board spiders and ride until the spider lays , then enter the egg sac to feed. Spongillafly larvae have free-floating first instars for . owlflies () adopt cryptic resting postures with projecting like a twig. Adult mantidflies are sit-and-wait using forelegs; some exhibit mimicry with defensive wing-splaying behavior.

Ecological Role

Larvae function as or , contributing to of other arthropods. Green and brown lacewings (Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae) are significant agents of pests in natural and agricultural systems. Antlions influence soil through . Spongillaflies serve as indicators of healthy freshwater with sponge or bryozoan . The order contributes to as prey for beetles, , and other insects. Some are parasitized by hymenopteran parasitoids (e.g., Gyrinophagus aper on Sisyra fuscata).

Human Relevance

Several , particularly Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae, are used or studied for of agricultural pests such as aphids, though establishing and maintaining field has proven difficult. Five are recorded as consumed by humans worldwide, including by New Guinea Highland peoples. Antlion larvae ('doodlebugs') are familiar to children and feature in folklore and colloquial rhymes. The group has inspired scientific interest due to remarkable larval adaptations and (e.g., mantidfly-mantis foreleg similarity). Some species serve as indicators for conservation monitoring, with rare species like Neuroleon microstenus in Slovenia considered endangered due to loss.

Similar Taxa

  • MegalopteraShares dense wing venation and soft bodies, but are generally larger with less delicate build; males often have prominent ; larvae are aquatic with lateral filaments on , not terrestrial pit-builders or debris-carriers
  • Raphidioptera (snakeflies)Related neuropterid order with similar wing venation, but distinguished by elongated prothorax creating a 'neck' appearance; ovipositor present in females; larvae occur under bark or in soil, not in specialized like antlion pits
  • Mantodea (mantises)Convergent forelegs in mantidflies, but mantises have leathery forewings (tegmina), triangular with large , and are not holometabolous; foreleg structure differs in detail

More Details

Evolutionary History

first appeared in the late Permian (Permithonidae from Siberia and Australia). Major diversification occurred during the Jurassic and Cretaceous, including the extinct ('butterflies of the Jurassic') with large, patterned wings. Crown group radiation was underway by the Early Cretaceous. Post-Cretaceous diversity appears to have declined. Molecular (2018, 2023) confirms relationships with Megaloptera and Raphidioptera in .

Taxonomic Revisions

Recent phylogenomic analyses (Engel, Winterton & Breitkreuz 2018; 2023 studies) have reorganized relationships, abandoning the suborder 'Hemerobiiformia' and redefining Myrmeleontiformia as a clade. The order now comprises approximately 17 extant families in several superfamilies.

Regional Diversity

Southern Africa represents a major center of antlion diversity, with high in arid western biomes. Palparini antlions include some of the largest , with forewings reaching 75 mm. In Europe, ongoing range expansions of Mediterranean species like Hypochrysa elegans and Pseudomallada flavifrons north to 50°N latitude suggest climate-driven distributional changes.

Tags

Sources and further reading