Australian Antlion vs Elegant Brown Lacewing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Antlion Elegant Brown Lacewing
Scientific Name Myrmeleon acer Sympherobius elegans
Order Neuroptera Neuroptera
Family Myrmeleontidae Hemerobiidae
Size 30-40 mm wingspan 5-8 mm wingspan
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Orchards
Diet Omnivores Wood Feeders
Regions Oceania Europe, North Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Australian Antlion

A medium-sized antlion common in sandy habitats across Australia. Its larvae construct classic conical pit traps in sheltered sandy ground.

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Did You Know?

Australian antlion larvae flick sand grains at prey trying to escape their pits, causing tiny avalanches that drag victims to the bottom.

Elegant Brown Lacewing

A tiny, delicate brown lacewing found in bark crevices of broadleaved trees. One of the smallest hemerobiid species in Europe.

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Did You Know?

At barely 5 mm wingspan, it is small enough to hunt insects living inside bark fissures.