Gourt > Science > Biology > Flora and Fauna > Animalia > Arthropoda > Insecta > Neuroptera
The insect order Neuroptera, or net-winged insects, includes the lacewings, mantidflies, antlions, and their relatives (the group that was once known as the Planipennia). The order contains some 4000 species. Traditionally, the order also included alderflies, fishflies, dobsonflies, and snakeflies, but these are now generally considered to be separate orders (the Megaloptera and Raphidioptera). Sometimes the name Neuropterida is used to refer to these three orders as a group.
The adults of this order possess four membranous wings, with the forewings and hindwings about the same size, and with many veins. They have chewing mouthparts, and undergo complete metamorphosis. Most are predatory, but a few exceptions occur.
Taxonomy
- Superfamily Coniopterygoidea
- Family Coniopterygidae: dustywings
- Superfamily Ithonioidea
- Family Ithonidae: moth lacewings
- Superfamily Hemerobioidea
- Family Chrysopidae: green lacewings, stinkflies
- Family Dilaridae: pleasing lacewings
- Family Hemerobiidae: brown lacewings
- Family Polystoechotidae: giant Lacewings
- Family Psychopsidae
- Superfamily Osmyloidea
- Family Osmylidae
- Family Neurorthidae
- Family Sisyridae: spongillaflies
- Superfamily Mantispoidea
- Family Berothidae: beaded lacewings
- Family Mantispidae: mantidflies
- Superfamily Myrmeleontoidea
- Family Ascalaphidae: ascalaphids, owlflies
- Family Myrmeleontidae: ant-lions
- Family Nemopteridae: spoonwings
- Family Nymphidae
- Superfamily Coniopterygoidea
The NASA Ares program is alive & we will know the restructure soon.
Neuroptera (D. Glaisyer) Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:14:43 -0000
The NASA Ares program is alive & we will know the restructure soon.
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Neuroptera (D. Glaisyer) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:11:01 -0000
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Antlion Pit: A Doodlebug Anthology - Information about antlions or doodlebugs (Myrmeleontidae) and their role in human imagination. Includes exclusive videos, world species map, and bookstore.
Meta Description: [ The Antlion Pit is a collection of resources related to the fascinating antlion (doodlebug), ranging from biology to cultural anthropology. ]
Antlions and Lacewings of South Africa - Introduction, resources, species lists with photos, and references; compiled by Mervyn W. Mansell.
Chrysoperla - Text and photographs describing Green Lacewings as biological control agents.
Meta Description: [ Text and photographs describing the biological control agents, Chrysoperla spp., generalist predators ]
Gordon's Neuroptera Page - Photos and descriptions.
Meta Description: [ An introduction to the biology and ecology of Lacewings and their kin, The Neuroptera ]
Journal of Neuropterology - Author's notes, and abstracts for the first two volumes.
Neuroptera - Classification and taxonomy, life history and ecology, anatomy, FAQ.
Neuroptera - Photographs and links to information about Neuropterida collections in California.
NeuroWeb - For neuropterists; bibliography, directory, news and general information for people who study the Neuropterida.
Order Neuroptera - Photo and brief description of the order's characteristics.
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