Spoonwing Lacewing vs Meadow Grasshopper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spoonwing Lacewing Meadow Grasshopper
Scientific Name Nemoptera bipennis Pseudochorthippus parallelus
Order Neuroptera Orthoptera
Family Nemopteridae Acrididae
Size 20-28 mm body 13-23 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe Western Europe, Central Europe, Northern Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Spoonwing Lacewing

A graceful insect with spatula-shaped hindwing extensions, giving it an ethereal appearance in flight. Common in Iberian Peninsula grasslands.

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Did You Know?

The spoon-shaped hindwings create an unusual fluttering flight pattern that makes the insect difficult for predators to track.

Meadow Grasshopper

A common European grasshopper with shortened wings that render it flightless. It produces a regular, ticking song from dense grassland throughout the summer.

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Did You Know?

Despite having wings, it cannot fly and must walk or hop to get anywhere.