Owlfly

Guides

Ascalaphinae
split-eyed owlflies, owlflies
Ascalaphinae is the type subfamily of the owlfly family Myrmeleontidae (order Neuroptera), distinguished by the diagnostic apomorphy of a ridge dividing each large compound eye—hence 'split-eyed owlflies.' This trait is shared with the subfamily Ululodinae. The subfamily is predominantly tropical in distribution and represents one of two main lineages of living Ascalaphidae, the other being Haplogleniinae with unsplit eyes. The first fossil record dates to the Miocene, suggesting Paleogene origin.
Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae owlfly split-eyed tropical ambush-predator holometabolous
Ascaloptynx
owlflies
Ascaloptynx is a genus of owlflies established by Banks in 1915. The genus contains at least two described species: Ascaloptynx appendiculata (Fabricius, 1793) and Ascaloptynx oligocenica Nel, 1991. Owlflies in this genus share the characteristic features of the family Ascalaphidae, including large compound eyes and raptorial forelegs adapted for predation.
owlfly Neuroptera predatory-insect
Myrmeleontidae
Antlions, Antlion lacewings, Doodlebugs, Owlflies
Myrmeleontidae is a family of neuropteran insects comprising approximately 2,000 species, commonly known as antlions or antlion lacewings. The family is best known for the distinctive predatory behavior of its larvae, which in many species construct conical pit traps in sandy soil to capture prey. Adults are aerial insects with delicate, often patterned wings, and are frequently mistaken for dragonflies or damselflies. The family includes two traditional subfamilies: Myrmeleontinae (antlions) and Ascalaphinae (owlflies), though the latter is sometimes treated as a separate family. Antlions exhibit remarkable diversity in larval hunting strategies, with pit-digging behavior restricted to certain genera while others employ ambush or roaming predation.
Neuroptera predator pit-trap sand-habitat crypsis ultrasound-hearing nocturnal doodlebug owlfly endemic
Myrmeleontiformia
Antlions, Owlflies, and Allies
Myrmeleontiformia is a monophyletic suborder of lacewings (Neuroptera) containing approximately 2,160 described species across two superfamilies: Myrmeleontoidea (antlions, owlflies, spoonwings, and split-footed lacewings) and Psychopsoidea (silky lacewings and extinct families). The group is predominantly diverse in arid tropical and subtropical regions. Members exhibit diverse larval predation strategies, including the famous pit-building behavior of some antlions.
neuropteran lacewing antlion owlfly predator ambush-predator pit-builder arid-habitat fossil cretaaceous
Oliarces clara
Cheeseweed Owlfly
Oliarces clara is a species of owlfly in the family Ithonidae, commonly known as the Cheeseweed Owlfly. It is a neuropteran insect native to North America. Owlflies in this family are generally nocturnal or crepuscular predators, though specific behavioral details for this species remain poorly documented. The species was described by Nathan Banks in 1908.
Neuroptera Ithonidae owlfly North-America cheeseweed-owlfly
Polistes dominula
European Paper Wasp
Polistes dominula is a highly successful invasive social wasp native to Eurasia that has established populations across North America, South America, New Zealand, South Africa, and other regions. First detected in North America near Boston in 1978, it has become one of the most abundant wasps on the continent. The species builds small, exposed paper nests in protected locations and preys primarily on live insects, particularly caterpillars. Unlike yellowjackets, it does not scavenge for meat or sugar. Its rapid spread has been attributed to ecological flexibility, superior competitive ability, and tolerance of human-altered environments.
invasive-species social-wasp paper-wasp predator pollinator urban-ecology eusocial nest-construction biological-control thermal-biology spatial-learning vibrational-communication aposematism honest-signal overwintering diapause Polistes Vespidae Hymenoptera North-America Europe New-Zealand South-Africa South-America monarch-butterfly caterpillar-predation nest-architecture gyne foundress dominance-hierarchy climate-change-impact energetics metabolic-rate microclimate suburban-habitat anthropogenic ornamental-pest vineyard-pest fruit-damage stinging-insect venom poison-gland warning-coloration Zahavian-signal Strepsiptera parasitoid Xenos behavioral-plasticity foraging learning memory thermoregulation ectothermy endothermy solar-radiation nest-temperature brood-development colony-survival multiple-founding single-founding season-length latitude temperate Mediterranean hibernacle overwintering-costs climate-warming range-expansion competition native-species-displacement 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ReplyDelete RepliesReplyOut prairieSeptember 8:02 keeping cabbage worm seen RepliesReplyAnonymousSeptember 13 2:06 PM becoming here Upper Peninsula Michigan pendulum seems swung ago everywhere vanishingly rare haven't again house right RepliesReplyL.R ShimerSeptember 4:35 head gal work everybody else kinda egalitarian RepliesReplyLarryMay 9:34 directed Bev Wigney BTW lived NE Missouri detailed presented Thanks cogent scientifically accurate summary insect's life-cycle RepliesBug EricMay 3:47 kind compliments Delete RepliesReplyReplyAdd commentLoad Blog currently reply reader himself Working resolve Newer Older Subscribe Atom Demonized hosting 4 p.m.Saturday Jan 20 Room 1124 Academic Surge 455 Crocker Lane campus Attendees chat check 50,000 vespid eight-million free friendly Parking estimate 2000 described inhabit 500 undescribed headline-grabbing giant Vespa mandarinia formerly Asian news media dubbed murder hornet confuse identify sheet example hidden rodent burrow wall huge 100,00 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Ululodes arizonensis
Ululodes arizonensis is a species of owlfly in the family Ascalaphidae, tribe Ululodini. It was described by Nathan Banks in 1907. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Owlflies are predatory insects closely related to antlions, distinguished by their large bulging eyes and elongated bodies.
owlfly Neuroptera Ululodini predatory-insect
Ululodes macleayanus
Macleay's Owlfly
Ululodes macleayanus is a species of owlfly in the tribe Ululodini, family Ascalaphidae. It is widely distributed across the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. The species is characterized by divided eyes and clubbed antennae. Adults are known for a distinctive cryptic resting posture where the abdomen projects from the perch to resemble a twig.
owlfly Neuroptera Ascalaphidae sand-prairie cryptic-posture divided-eyes
Ululodes quadripunctatus
Four-spotted Owlfly
Ululodes quadripunctatus, commonly known as the four-spotted owlfly, is a species of owlfly in the family Ascalaphidae and tribe Ululodini. The species is distributed across Central America and North America. Owlflies are neuropteran insects that share characteristics with both dragonflies and butterflies, possessing large eyes, many-veined wings, and long clubbed antennae.
owlfly neuroptera ascalaphidae predator ambush-predator central-america north-america sand-habitat cryptic-behavior