Common Brown Lacewing vs Mantidfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Brown Lacewing | Mantidfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hemerobius humulinus | Mantispa styriaca |
| Order | Neuroptera | Neuroptera |
| Family | Hemerobiidae | Mantispidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 15-25 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Brown Lacewing
A small brownish lacewing with mottled wings commonly found on deciduous trees. Adults and larvae both feed on aphids and other small insects.
Did You Know?
Unlike green lacewings, brown lacewing adults are also predatory and actively hunt small insects.
Mantidfly
A remarkable insect with raptorial forelegs strikingly similar to a praying mantis, a textbook example of convergent evolution. Adults ambush small insects from vegetation.
Did You Know?
Mantidfly larvae are parasitoids that enter spider egg sacs and feed on the eggs before pupating inside.