Other Common Names
Net-winged Insects, Nerve-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 separate orders of the superorder Neuropterida
latest in higher taxonomy in
(1)
Numbers
Largest order of the Neuropterida,* with 16 families
(1), ~5500 spp. worldwide and 338 in our area
(2) [*~400 spp. of Neuropterida in our area
(2)]
72 spp. in 24 genera of 8 families in BC (
Scudder & Cannings 2008)
Overview of our fauna (* = taxa not yet in the guide):
Order Neuroptera
Tribe Haplogeniini:
*Ascalobyas ·
Ascaloptynx
Tribe Ululodini:
Ululodes
Tribe Dendroleontini:
Dendroleon
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, generally with many veins:
Antennae long, many-segmented, threadlike, pectinate or clubbed:
Tarsi 5-segmented
Cerci absent
Mouthparts chewing
ocelli present or not, depending on family
Order Neuroptera:
Forewings and hindwings similar in size and shape
Prothorax not lengthened, except in Mantispidae
Food
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