BugWise

What do lacewings look like?

An example of a lacewing. Photo: D Gray © Australian Museum.

Lacewing. Illustration: A Howells © Australian Museum.

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.