HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

See Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera) » Lacewings and Allies (Hemerobiiformia) » Brown Lacewings (Hemerobiidae) » Microminae » Micromus

Genus Micromus

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Remarks · Works Cited

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 Microminae

Genus Micromus

Explanation of Names

Micromus Rambur 1842

Numbers

8 spp. in our area(1), ~100 total(2)

1. Micromus angulatus: northern (Canada: AB, BC, MB, NF, NS, NT, ON, QC, SK, YT; United States: CO, ME, MI, MN, NH, NY, SD, VT, WI)

2. Micromus borealis: northeastern (Canada: AB, BC, YT; United States: AK)

3. Micromus montanus : widespread (Canada: AB, BC, NS, QC, SK; United States: AZ, CA, CO, CT, ID, MA, ME, NC, ND, NH, NV, NY, TN, UT, VT, WA, WI)

4. Micromus posticus: widespread (Canada: BC, ON, QC, YT; United States: AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, MA, ME, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, VA, WA, WI)

5. Micromus remiformis: western (CA, ID, NV, OR, UT)

6. Micromus subanticus: widespread (Canada: BC, MB, ON, QC; United States: AZ, CA, FL, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MN, MO, NC, NV, NY, OH, SC, TX, VA, WI)

7. Micromus variegatus: introduced and spreading (Canada: AB, BC, NS, QC; United States: ID, NH, OR, WA)

8. Micromus variolosus: western (Canada: BC, SK, YT; United States: AZ, CA, CO, ID, KS, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY) plus IN, MN

Identification

Eyes comparatively small, palpi without apiculus

Heads of Micromus (left) vs. Hemerobius (right)

Wing venation:

larvae discussed in(3)

Range

worldwide & across NA(1)(2)

Remarks

our only representative of the subfamily Microminae Krüger 1922 (3 genera total)

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.	Neuropterida Species of the World catalogue (by J.D. Oswald)

3.	Larvae of Micromus: generic characteristics and a description of Micromus subanticus (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) Krakauer A.H., Tauber C.A. 1996. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 89(2): 203-211.

Contributed by Mike Boone on 18 August, 2006 - 11:21am
Additional contributions by cotinis, v belov, PaleoJon
Last updated 18 June, 2023 - 4:27am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version