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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera) » Lacewings and Allies (Hemerobiiformia) » Spongillaflies (Sisyridae)

Family Sisyridae - Spongillaflies

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Life Cycle · See Also · Internet References · Works Cited
Spongilla fly Larvae Spongefly - Sisyra vicaria Sisyrid? - Climacia areolaris Spongillafly - Climacia areolaris Climacia areolaris ? - Climacia areolaris Climacia chapini? - Climacia Sisyra vicaria Climacia areolaris? - Climacia areolaris
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies)
Suborder Hemerobiiformia (Lacewings and Allies)
Family Sisyridae (Spongillaflies)
Other Common Names
Spongeflies, Sponge Lacewings
Explanation of Names
Sisyridae Handlirsch 1908
Numbers
in our area, 2 genera with 3 species each(1)
Size
6-8 mm
Identification
Adults resemble brown lacewings superficially. Larvae are distinctive, with ventral abdominal gills in instars II-III, and long straight jaws(2)

Wing venation of Sisyra:
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid on vegetation over a body of fresh water with 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 come to lights.(3)

larva -- larval mouthparts -- pupa:
See Also
Hemerobiidae
Internet References
Taxon page(2)
key to Sisyridae of Michigan(4)
Works Cited
1.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
2.Australian Faunal Directory
3.Insects: Their Natural History And Diversity: With a Photographic Guide to Insects of Eastern North America
Stephen A. Marshall. 2006. Firefly Books Ltd.
4.Bright E. (2002-2011) Aquatic Insects of Michigan
Contributed by tom murray on 4 January, 2006 - 3:41pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, ceiseman, v belov, PaleoJon
Last updated 14 October, 2020 - 9:09am

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