Small Brown Lacewing vs Discothyrea Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Small Brown Lacewing Discothyrea Ant
Scientific Name Micromus angulatus Discothyrea testacea
Order Neuroptera Hymenoptera
Family Hemerobiidae Formicidae
Size 6-9 mm wingspan 1.5-2 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions Southern Europe, North Africa Southern Europe, North Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Small Brown Lacewing

A tiny brown lacewing native to southern Europe and North Africa. Found in low herbaceous vegetation and grassy areas.

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Did You Know?

Its preference for ground-level vegetation sets it apart from most tree-dwelling lacewing relatives.

Discothyrea Ant

An extremely small and rarely seen ant with only a single-segmented antennal club, unique among ants. It nests deep in soil and rotting wood across southern Europe.

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Did You Know?

Its single-segment antennal club is found in no other ant genus, making it instantly recognizable to myrmecologists.