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Species Hemerobius stigma

Representative Images

Brown Lacewing - Hemerobius stigma Brown Lacewing - Hemerobius stigma Brown Lacewing - Hemerobius stigma Hemerobiidae - Hemerobius stigma Hemerobius stigma? - Hemerobius stigma Hemerobius stigma? - Hemerobius stigma Hemerobius - Hemerobius stigma Hemerobiidae - Hemerobius stigma

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 Hemerobiidae (Brown Lacewings)
Subfamily Hemerobiinae
Genus Hemerobius
Species stigma (Hemerobius stigma)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Hemerobius stigma Stephens, 1835. Synonyms:
Hemerobius stigmaterus Fitch, 1855

Size

5-8 mm

Identification

Noted for a distinctive, broad orange-brown pterostigma especially on the hind wings(1), dark spot at the basal crossvein between veins M3+4 and Cu1, and more unicolored thorax. (see Meinander, 1962) Highly variable in terms of wing markings, with the summer form being nearly devoid of markings and the winter form having heavily spotted wings.(2)

Caution: several other species have a distinct pterosigma, particularly in the west, including H. alpestris, H. kokaneeanus, and H. simulans.

Range

Holarctic. Widespread in North America.(3)

Habitat

Often associated with conifers.(2)

Season

Listed March-April, September, for North Carolina by Brimley (4).

Life Cycle

Life history described in depth by Withycombe (1922).(2)

Print References

Brimley, p. 29, Hemerobius stigmaterus (4)

Internet References

Cornell University--discusses life cycle

Works Cited

1.A revision of the Nearctic Hemerobiidae
Nathan Banks. 1905. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, vol. 32: 21-51.
2.The life-history of Hemerobius stigma, Steph.
Withycombe, C. L. 1922. The Entomologist 55(708):97-99.
3.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.
4.Insects of North Carolina
C.S. Brimley. 1938. North Carolina Department of Agriculture.