AY Honors/Insect/Neuroptera

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The insect order Neuroptera, or net-winged insects, includes the lacewings, mantidflies, antlions, and their relatives (the group that was once known as the Planipennia). The order contains some 4000 species. Traditionally, the order also included alderflies, fishflies, dobsonflies, and snakeflies, but these are now generally considered to be separate orders (the Megaloptera and Raphidioptera). Sometimes the name Neuropteroidea (syn. Neuropterida) is used to refer to these three orders as a group.

The adults of this order possess four membranous wings, with the forewings and hindwings about the same size, and with many veins. They have chewing mouthparts, and undergo complete metamorphosis. Most are predatory, but a few exceptions occur.

Taxonomy

Partial phylogeny of the order.

Life cycle of lacewings

• Superfamily Coniopterygoidea
  • Family Coniopterygidae: dustywings
• Superfamily Ithonioidea
  • Family Ithonidae: moth lacewings
• Superfamily Hemerobioidea
  • Family Chrysopidae: green lacewings, stinkflies
  • Family Dilaridae: pleasing lacewings
  • Family Hemerobiidae: brown lacewings
  • Family Polystoechotidae: giant Lacewings
  • Family Psychopsidae
• Superfamily Osmyloidea
  • Family Osmylidae
  • Family Neurorthidae
  • Family Sisyridae: spongillaflies
• Superfamily Mantispoidea
  • Family Berothidae: beaded lacewings
  • Family Mantispidae: mantidflies
• Superfamily Myrmeleontoidea
  • Family Palaeoleontidae
  • Family Ascalaphidae: ascalaphids, owlflies
  • Family Myrmeleontidae: ant-lions
  • Family Nemopteridae: spoonwings
  • Family Nymphidae

References

• Grimaldi, D. and Engel, M.S. (2005). Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-82149-5.

External Links

Illustrated database of Neuroptera (insects)

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  Ascalaphus libelluloides, an owlfly

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  Euroleon nostras, an ant-lion

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  Antlion larva