Pleasing Lacewings

Dilaridae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Neuroptera
Suborder: Hemerobiiformia
Family: Dilaridae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dilaridae: //daɪˈlærədiː//

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

Images

Pleasing Lacewing Female - Flickr - treegrow (3) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pleasing Lacewing Ovipositing (14415165867) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pleasing Lacewing Ovipositing (14414992639) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pleasing Lacewing Ovipositing (14621650913) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Nallachius americanus P1300162a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pleasing Lacewing Ovipositing (14599608764) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Summary

Dilaridae, or pleasing lacewings, are a family of insects within the order Neuroptera, known for their delicate appearance and role in ecosystems as predators. They have been revised in taxonomy and are placed within the monophyletic group Dilaroidea.

Physical Characteristics

Pleasantly colored wings, often with intricate patterns; body shape resembling a lacewing with delicate, slender antennae.

Identification Tips

Look for their characteristic lace-like wings and long antennae; males often have distinctive morphological features compared to females.

Habitat

Typically found in wooded areas, often under bark and in leaf litter.

Distribution

Widely distributed across the southeastern USA to Texas and northern regions up to Michigan; another species restricted to Arizona.

Diet

Larvae are presumed to feed on beetles and ants, particularly their eggs and larvae, under bark; adults are believed to be more general feeders.

Life Cycle

Involves aquatic larvae emerging in late spring to early summer, with adults observed from May to July.

Reproduction

Details on specific reproductive behavior remain unspecified; likely involves typical insect mating practices, egg-laying on or near suitable food sources for larvae.

Ecosystem Role

Potential role as both predator (larvae on pest insects) and prey for various birds and other insectivores.

Collecting Methods

Light traps during active months (May to July)
Searching under bark for larvae.

Preservation Methods

Pinning specimens for morphological study
Ethanol preservation of larvae.

Evolution

Formerly classified in paraphyletic superfamily Hemerobioidea; currently recognized in the monophyletic superfamily Dilaroidea, which indicates evolutionary relationships to Mantispoidea and Osmyloidea.

Similar Taxa

Hemerobiidae (Brown Lacewings)
Kalligrammatidae

Misconceptions

Often confused with other lacewing families; not all lacewings are beneficial insects - some can be pests.