COMMON NAME

Owlfly lacewing

Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Alias

Neuroptera

Ascalaphidae

Suhpalacsa

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Description

This lacewing is called an owlfly but it is not a fly. The adults are similar to the brown and green lacewings but they are more striking in their colouring; black with bright yellow dashes. Their antennae are longer than other lacewings and have clubbed tips. When at rest the head dips below the thorax. Many pictures show the owfly with its body raised up almost vertically and the wings facing down when at rest. The larvae are similar to antlions but the body is flatter and disc shaped, with feather-like filaments projecting outwards.

Adult size: 30mm

Out and about

They are active in the hotter months during the day. Eggs hatch in summer and the larvae are around through to winter, pupating in mid spring. Found primarily in semi-arid and arid regions worldwide, they do inhabit more tropical areas. There are around 40 species native to Australia occurring mostly in the north and eastern regions.

Reproduction and Life cycle

The eggs are oval and brown and laid in clusters of up to 60 around plant stems (not on stalks). The larvae go through a number of instars before pupating

To deter

To control

Plants to repel

Plants to attract

Alyssum / Angelica / Caraway / Carrot / Coriander / Daisy family (Coreopsis) / Dill / Fennel / Heather / Oleander / Queen Anne’s lace / Red and white cosmos (Bipinnatus) / Tansy / Yellow yarrow

Predators

Why they are Beneficial

The adults capture their prey in flight. They predate on other flying insects. The larvae do not build pits but wait for their prey to come within range and ambush them.

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