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

Family Sisyridae - Spongilla Lacewings

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Life Cycle · See Also · Internet References · Works Cited
Spongefly - Sisyra vicaria Spongillafly - Climacia areolaris Caddisfly - Climacia areolaris Willamette River spongillafly - Climacia californica Trichoptera - Climacia areolaris Climacia chapini? - Climacia areolaris Climacia areolaris Pennsylvania Insect for ID - 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 (Spongilla Lacewings)
Other Common Names
Spongillaflies, Spongeflies, Sponge Lacewings
Explanation of Names
Sisyridae Handlirsch 1908
Numbers
2 genera with 3 species each in our area(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.Species catalog of the Neuroptera, Megaloptera, and Raphidioptera of America North of Mexico
Penny N.D., Adams P.A., Stange L.A. 1997. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 50: 39-114.
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 28 December, 2022 - 12:06pm

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