Marsh Treader vs Wesmael's Brown Lacewing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Marsh Treader Wesmael's Brown Lacewing
Scientific Name Hydrometra stagnorum Wesmaelius subnebulosus
Order Hemiptera Neuroptera
Family Hydrometridae Hemerobiidae
Size 9-12 mm 10-16 mm wingspan
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Western Asia Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Marsh Treader

An extremely slender, stick-like bug with a greatly elongated head. It walks slowly across floating vegetation and water surfaces at pond margins, probing for tiny prey.

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Did You Know?

Its elongated head and rostrum give it a bizarre twig-like appearance, providing excellent camouflage among vegetation.

Wesmael's Brown Lacewing

A medium-sized brown lacewing with subtly patterned wings found across Europe. Frequent in gardens and deciduous woodland.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the earliest lacewings to appear in spring, sometimes active as early as March.