Common Spongillafly vs Dibrachys Pupal Parasite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Spongillafly Dibrachys Pupal Parasite
Scientific Name Sisyra fuscata Dibrachys cavus
Order Neuroptera Hymenoptera
Family Sisyridae Pteromalidae
Size 6-10 mm wingspan 1.5-3 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Farmland
Diet Parasitoids Parasitoids
Regions Europe, Western Asia Europe, North America, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Common Spongillafly

A small dark lacewing whose larvae are aquatic parasitoids of freshwater sponges. One of the few neuropterans with aquatic larval stages.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae breathe underwater using specialized pointed mouthparts that also pierce sponge cells for feeding.

Dibrachys Pupal Parasite

A gregarious parasitoid wasp that attacks the pupae and cocoons of many different insect hosts. It is a generalist and sometimes acts as a hyperparasitoid of other beneficial wasps.

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Did You Know?

It has one of the broadest host ranges of any parasitoid wasp, recorded from over 100 different insect species.