Numbers
Nearctica.com lists six genera for North America:
Hemerobius, Megalomus, Micromus, Psectra, Sympherobius, Wesmaelius.
Arnett, p. 349, lists 6 genera, 60 species
(1)Identification
Similar to Green Lacewings (
Chrysopidae) but brown, usually smaller, wings usually more rounded. Other characters
(1):
wing membrane is "microtrichiated" (covered with small hairs)
wing veins form two or more radial sectors
Wing venation of Hemerobius, Sympherobius, and Megalomus:
Some Green Lacewings (photo below) have a tan overwintering form, but note different wing venation (illustration):
Range
Widely distributed over North America, many species in west. Milne and Milne state there are "at least 6 species in New England and 12 in areas of the West".
(2) Hemerobius and
Symphererobius are common/widespread genera in east, apparently.
Season
Spring, fall, into winter in south.
Food
Adults and larvae predaceous. Homopterans, such as aphids, are favorite prey.
Life Cycle
Females attach eggs directly to leaves--not on stalks as Green Lacewings do. Larvae do not carry debris on their backs.
See Also
Chrysopidae - Green Lacewings--usually green (some have brownish overwintering forms), wing venation different, wings usually less rounded
Berothidae - Beaded Lacewings
Sisyridae - Spongillaflies
Print References
Milne and Milne, pp. 527-528, fig. 328
(2)
Castner, pp. 108-109, fig. 382
(3)
Borror and White, pp. 144-145
(4)
Arnett and Jacques, #80
(5)
Swan and Papp, p. 184, fig. 192
(6)
Brimley, p. 29 lists, for North Carolina:
Sympherobius (2 sp.),
Hemererobius (4 spp.),
Boriomyia (1 sp.),
Micromus (4 spp.). Taxonomy is of course, likely out-of-date in that work.
(7)Contributed by
Cotinis on 30 April, 2004 - 9:37am
Additional contributions by
smccann27Last updated 4 July, 2009 - 11:25am
