Other Common Names
net-winged insects, lacewings
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
=Planipennia
Neuroptera used to be treated by some workers in a broader sense, to include Planipennia (lacewings, antlions, owlflies, etc.),
Megaloptera (alderflies, dobsonflies, fishflies), and
Raphidioptera/Raphidiodea (snakeflies). Currently these groups are treated as three separate orders of the superorder Neuropterida
Numbers
Largest order of the Neuropterida, with at least 11 major families, 4670 spp. worldwide and 338 in our area
(2) (there are ca. 400 spp. of Neuropterida in our area
(3))
72 spp. in 24 genera of 8 families in BC (
Scudder & Cannings 2008)
Overview of our fauna:
Order Neuroptera
Taxa not yet in the guide are marked (*).
Tribe Chrysopini Ceraeochrysa,
Chrysopa,
Chrysoperla,
*Chrysopodes,
Eremochrysa (subgenera
*Chrysopiella,
Eremochrysa),
Meleoma,
*Nineta,
*Plesiochrysa,
Pseudomallada,
Yumachrysa
Size
Typically 10-40 mm, some up to 80 mm
Identification
Superorder Neuropterida:
Four membranous wings: FW and HW about same size or HW a little wider at base;
wings usually held rooflike over body at rest; wings generally with many veins:
Antennae long, many-segmented, threadlike, pectinate or clubbed. Some examples:
Tarsi 5-segmented
Cerci absent
Mouthparts chewing
Some groups with simple eyes (ocelli), others without--useful in distinguishing families
Complete metamorphosis
Order Neuroptera:
Forewings and hindwings similar in size and shape
Prothorax not lengthened, except in Mantispidae
Larvae terrestrial, except in
SisyridaeFood
larvae, and often adults, predaceous
Life Cycle
Neuropterida: Larvae
campodeiform (crawler), mandibles usually large. Majority terrestrial but a few aquatic. Larvae usually predaceous. Pupation usually occurs in a silken cocoon.
Neuroptera: Larvae terrestrial, except in the
Sisyridae. Typical life cycle:
Remarks
Many are valuable natural enemies of pests, esp. aphids and some other homopterans
