Elegant Brown Lacewing vs Mantidfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Elegant Brown Lacewing | Mantidfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sympherobius elegans | Mantispa styriaca |
| Order | Neuroptera | Neuroptera |
| Family | Hemerobiidae | Mantispidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm wingspan | 15-25 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Heathland |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Elegant Brown Lacewing
A tiny, delicate brown lacewing found in bark crevices of broadleaved trees. One of the smallest hemerobiid species in Europe.
Did You Know?
At barely 5 mm wingspan, it is small enough to hunt insects living inside bark fissures.
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.