Image: Lacewing

Lacewing

Lacewing, line drawing.

Illustrator:
Andrew Howells
Rights:
© Australian Museum

Additional information

 

What do lacewings look like?

Size:
  • Wingspan 5 mm - 150 mm.
Body:
  • Column-like or widest at wing attachment (wide shoulders) and tapering past this point.
  • Body appears soft and fragile.
Antennae:
  • Thread-like or bead-like, and has many segments.
  • Sometimes variously thickened with a well-defined club.
  • Length highly variable.
Eyes:
  • Large, bulging and well separated.
     
Mouthparts:
  • For chewing or munching; long palps (mouthparts that look like a 'chain of beads').
  • Held downwards at rest.
Wings:
  • Two pairs.
  • Both pairs are membranous, clear and have numerous cross-veins forming many cells.
  • Both pairs have forked veins along wing margin.
  • Length, width and shape variable.
  • At rest wings held tent-like over body.
Limbs:
  • Six slender legs.
Abdomen tip:
  • Cerci (tails) absent.

Where are lacewings found?

  • Just about anywhere.

What do lacewings do?

  • They are solitary but they may group together or swarm during mating.
  • When disturbed they usually fly away. Other possible responses include threat displays where they pretend to sting with their abdomen (they do not have stings), and emitting noxious-smelling chemicals.
  • They are weak, flapping fliers.
  • Those species of lacewing that feed as adults are generally predators, though some feed on honeydew or pollen.
  • They are active during the night or day - some strongly attracted to light.

Atypical lacewings

  • Dusty wings (family Coniopterygidae) are unlike other lacewings as their wings have few veins and they may not have forked veins along margin. Furthermore their bodies are covered with a waxy secretion. Otherwise other features of the order apply. They are small with a wingspan less than 15mm.
  • Mantis flies (family Mantispidae) are lacewings despite their name. They are characterised by having raptorial forelegs similar to praying mantids. Furthermore they may even behave like a mantid, otherwise all the other features apply.
  • Moth Lacewings (family Ithonidae) are characterised by wings hairy along veins and margins and appear moth like. Otherwise other features of the order apply.

What looks similar?

  • Dragonflies and Damselflies that are preserved may be confused with lacewings. Dragonflies and Damselflies can be distinguished by having bristle-like antennae and wings that lack forked veins along margins.
  • Stoneflies can be separated from lacewings by having a pair of cerci extending from abdomen tip and wings held flat to or wrapped around body.
  • Caddisflies maybe confused with Moth Lacewings however caddisflies can be distinguished as their wings are entirely hairy and have little or no cross-veins.
  • Alderflies and dobsonflies that are preserved may be confused with lacewings. Alderflies and dobsonflies however lack forked veins along wing margin and their hindwing has a large lobe at base.
  • Praying mantids maybe confused with mantis flies. However praying mantids unlike mantis flies lack wings or if present are leathery, cloudy and held flat over their body. Furthermore they have a triangular head, and their hindwing folds away like a hand fan.
  • Scorpionflies are sometimes confused with lacewings. Scorpionflies are generally separated from all other groups by a beak-like extension of their head, with the mouthparts located at its tip. However in some lacewings the head may also appear to be extended, though never to the extent of a scorpionfly. In these circumstances scorpionflies can be distinguished by lacking the forked veins along margins of their wings.
  • Moths can be confused with moth lacewings. Moths can be distinguished as they have curled tubular mouthparts or mouthparts reduced or absent; their bodies are covered in easily removed scales rather than hair; and their wings lack numerous cross-veins.

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