Wesmael's Brown Lacewing vs Spoonwing Lacewing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Wesmael's Brown Lacewing Spoonwing Lacewing
Scientific Name Wesmaelius subnebulosus Nemoptera bipennis
Order Neuroptera Neuroptera
Family Hemerobiidae Nemopteridae
Size 10-16 mm wingspan 20-28 mm body
Habitat Woodlands Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Wesmael's Brown Lacewing

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

💡

Did You Know?

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

Spoonwing Lacewing

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

💡

Did You Know?

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