Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies
Order Neuroptera
The Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Order Neuroptera) includes 232 species across 11 families and 64 genera in our directory.
About Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies
Neuroptera (lacewings, antlions, owlflies) includes ~6,000 described species. Green lacewing larvae are called 'aphid lions' - a single larva can consume up to 200 aphids per week.
Economic Impact
Lacewings are commercially reared and sold as biological pest control agents. The global biological pest control market, which heavily features lacewings, was valued at $6.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $16.4 billion by 2033.
Ecological Role
Antlion larvae build conical pit traps in sandy soil - an engineering feat studied by physicists for insights into granular mechanics. Adult lacewings are important pollinators of night-blooming flowers.
Families in Neuroptera (11)
Species in Neuroptera (232)
Purenleon albovarius
Purenleon albovarius
Purenleon bistictus
Purenleon bistictus
Purenleon connexus
Purenleon connexus
Purenleon inscriptus
Purenleon inscriptus
Scotoleon carrizonus
Scotoleon carrizonus
Scotoleon dissimilis
Scotoleon dissimilis
Scotoleon eiseni
Scotoleon eiseni
Scotoleon expansus
Scotoleon expansus
Scotoleon longipalpis
Scotoleon longipalpis
Scotoleon marshi
Scotoleon marshi
Scotoleon minutus
Scotoleon minutus
Scotoleon nigrescens
Scotoleon nigrescens
Scotoleon nigrilabris
Scotoleon nigrilabris
Scotoleon yavapai
Scotoleon yavapai
Sierra Green Lacewing
Apertochrysa sierra
Sisyra apicalis
Sisyra apicalis
Sisyra nigra
Sisyra nigra
Sisyra vicaria
Sisyra vicaria
Small Brown Lacewing
Micromus posticus
Snow's Picture-winged Antlion
Glenurus snowii
Spotted-winged Antlion
Dendroleon obsoletus
Sympherobius amiculus
Sympherobius amiculus
Sympherobius californicus
Sympherobius californicus
Sympherobius perparvus
Sympherobius perparvus
Sympherobius umbratus
Sympherobius umbratus
Tasmanian Brown Lacewing
Micromus tasmaniae
Ululodes mexicanus
Ululodes mexicanus
Ululodes nigripes
Ululodes nigripes
Vella americana
Vella americana
Vella fallax
Vella fallax
Xeromantispa scabrosa
Xeromantispa scabrosa
common wax-fly
Conwentzia psociformis