Family Sisyridae - Spongillaflies

Spongeflies

From genus Sisyra, that name apparently from Greek sisyr (usually as sisyra, sometimes sisyro), meaning a garment of skin (1). An article entitled, New Zealand’s most enigmatic moth – what we know about Titanomis sisyrota (PDF) gives the meaning as "shaggy garment".

Nearctica and Arnett (2) list 2 genera of Sisyridae, with 3 species in each genus.

6-8 mm

Adults resemble brown lacewings superficially. Larvae are distinctive, have ventral abdominal gills in the second and third instars and long straight jaws (Australian Faunal Directory).

Wing venation of Sisyra:

  

These members of the neuroptera (Planipennia) are largely aquatic. Eggs are laid on vegetation over a body of water with freshwater sponges. Larvae are aquatic, develop inside of, and feed on, freshwater sponges and bryozoans. The elongated mouthparts are used to pierce the cells of the sponge and ingest their contents. Adults found near larval habitat and are attracted to lights (3).

Illustrations--larva, mouthparts of larva, pupa: