Beaded Lacewing vs Giant Lacewing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Beaded Lacewing | Giant Lacewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lomamyia latipennis | Polystoechotes punctata |
| Order | Neuroptera | Neuroptera |
| Family | Berothidae | Ithonidae |
| Size | 10-15 mm | 40-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Beaded Lacewing
A small lacewing whose larvae live inside termite nests and prey on the termite workers. Adults have distinctive beaded wing venation.
Did You Know?
Beaded lacewing larvae immobilize termites by releasing a toxic gas from their abdomen before consuming them.
Giant Lacewing
Once widespread across North America, it vanished from the eastern US by the 1950s. A single specimen was rediscovered in Walmart parking lot in Arkansas in 2012 after 50 years.
Did You Know?
This giant lacewing was thought extinct in eastern North America for 50 years — until a single specimen was collected at a Walmart parking lot in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2012.