#owl-fly

[punkedsolar]

The Lacewings, all coloured and complete now. I could still do a little more, but to be honest I don't think I have any energy left.

The insects shown are:

Mantis Lacewing - Ditaxis meridiei

Blue-Eyes Lacewing - Nymphes myrmeleonoides

Angular-wing Lacewing - Periclystus circuiter

Pied Lacewing - Porismus strigatus

Yellow Owl-Fly - Suhpalacsa flavipes

The plant they are on is a blanket leaf - Bedfordia arborescens, which is native to the location that these lacewings are from. Lacewings are beneficial insects in the garden, predating on many insects we have issues with. They lay eggs on teeny tiny little long-lines, giving an impression of tiny rows of balloons.

If you like this sort of thing, follow me here at @punkedsolar!

[libutron]

Owl-fly - Libelloides ottomanus

This spectacular insect is an European species of Owl-fly belonging to the species Libelloides ottomanus (Neuroptera - Ascalaphidae). 

Owl-flies are very similar to large dragonfly-like insects; they are 35-40 mm long, have a sturdy thorax, large compound eyes that meet on the midline above the hairy head, and long, knobbed (clubbed) antennae as long as the body. Their wings bear many cross veins along the front margin. 

Reference: [1]

Photo credit: ©Adam Gor | Locality: Mount Chelmos, Greece (2011)