Ascalaphinae

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Ascalaphinae
Suhpalacsa subtrahens.jpg
Suhpalacsa subtrahens
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Neuroptera
Family: Ascalaphidae
Subfamily: Ascalaphinae
Genera

70 species (see text)

Ascalaphinae is the type subfamily of the neuropteran owlfly family. Most species are found in the tropics. Their characteristic apomorphy , shared with the Ululodinae, is the ridge which divides each of their large compound eyes; both groups are thus sometimes known as split-eyed owlflies. [1]

Contents

Like the other owlflies, they are insectivores. Imagines are cumbersome fliers and lack the strong mouthparts of dragonflies (which owlflies resemble at first glance, despite being not at all closely related insects) or other decidedly predatory insects, they are restricted to small and defenseless prey. The larvae on the other hand resemble antlions in appearance and habits and are voracious ambush predators, able to tackle prey like ants that will not be eaten without a struggle.

The ascalaphine split-eyed owlflies form one of the two main lineages of living Ascalaphidae, the other being the Haplogleniinae which have unsplit eyes like their ancestors. The first fossil record of the Ascalaphinae dates to the Miocene, and the subfamily thus probably evolved in the latter half or towards the end of the Paleogene. [2]

Genera

Ascalaphus sinister male Owlfly Ascalaphidae by kadavoor.JPG
Ascalaphus sinister male
Glyptobasis sp. male Ascalaphidae in Parappa.jpg
Glyptobasis sp. male

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antlion</span> Family of insects

The antlions are a group of about 2,000 species of insect in the neuropteran family Myrmeleontidae. They are known for the predatory habits of their larvae, which mostly dig pits to trap passing ants or other prey. In North America, the larvae are sometimes referred to as doodlebugs because of the marks they leave in the sand. The adult insects are less well known due to their relatively short lifespans in comparison with the larvae. Adults, sometimes known as antlion lacewings, mostly fly at dusk or just after dark and may be mistakenly identified as dragonflies or damselflies.

<i>Corydalus</i> Genus of insects

Corydalus is a genus of large flying insects in the Corydalidae family, commonly known as dobsonflies. They are endemic to North, Central and South America and there are about 35 known species. Members of the genus have wing lengths of up to 85 millimetres. They are sexually dimorphic, with the males having large mandibles used to grasp the females during mating while the females have smaller jaws. The larvae are known as hellgrammites and are aquatic predators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owlfly</span> Family of insects

Ascalaphidae is a family of insects in the order Neuroptera, commonly called owlflies; there are some 450 extant species. They are fast-flying crepuscular or diurnal predators of other flying insects, and have large bulging eyes and strongly knobbed antennae. The larvae are ambush predators; some of them make use of self-decoration camouflage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nymphidae</span> Family of insects

Nymphidae, sometimes called split-footed lacewings, are a family of winged insects of the order Neuroptera. There are 35 extant species native to Australia and New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alderfly</span> Family of insects

Alderflies are megalopteran insects of the family Sialidae. They are closely related to the dobsonflies and fishflies as well as to the prehistoric Euchauliodidae. All living alderflies – about 66 species all together – are part of the subfamily Sialinae, which contains nine extant genera.

<i>Chrysoperla</i> Genus of insects

Chrysoperla is a genus of common green lacewings in the neuropteran family Chrysopidae. Therein they belong to the Chrysopini, the largest tribe of subfamily Chrysopinae. Their larvae are predatory and feed on aphids, and members of this genus have been used in biological pest control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysopinae</span> Subfamily of lacewings

Chrysopinae is the nominate subfamily of green lacewings in the insect family Chrysopidae in the order Neuroptera. This subfamily is also the largest within the family and comprises about 60 genera.

<i>Bittacus</i> Genus of insects

Bittacus is a genus of hangingflies in the order Mecoptera. Members of the genus have a cosmopolitan distribution. The genus has existed since at least the earliest Late Cretaceous. Bittacus is considered "grossly paraphyletic" and serves as a catch-all for many distantly related species of hangingflies.

<i>Libelloides</i> Genus of lacewings

Libelloides is a genus of owlflies belonging to the subfamily Ascalaphinae. The species of this genus are present in most of Europe. They inhabit dry meadows or dry coniferous forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nemoleontinae</span> Subamily of insects

The Nemoleontinae are a subfamily of ant-lions, erected by Nathan Banks in 1911.

Myrmecaelurini is a tribe of antlion within the subfamily Myrmeleontinae.

Cordulecerus is a genus of owlflies, neuropteran insects in the subfamily Ascalaphinae. Species are found in Central and South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysopini</span> Tribe of lacewings

Chrysopini is a tribe of green lacewings in the family Chrysopidae. There are about 32 genera and 926 described species in Chrysopini.

<i>Ululodes</i> Genus of insects

Ululodes is a genus of owlflies in the tribe Ululodini. There are at least 27 described species in Ululodes.

<i>Apertochrysa</i> Genus of lacewings

Apertochrysa is a genus of green lacewings in the family Chrysopidae. There are 183 described species in the genus.

<i>Libelloides longicornis</i> Species of insect

Libelloides longicornis, common name black yellow owlfly, is an owlfly species belonging to the family Ascalaphidae, subfamily Ascalaphinae.

<i>Acanthacorydalis</i> Genus of insects

Acanthacorydalis is a genus of insects belonging to the family Corydalidae.

<i>Ascalaphus</i> (insect) Genus of owlfly

Ascalaphus is a genus of owlfly belonging to the tribe Ascalaphini. The species of this genus are found in Africa and Asia.

<i>Protohermes</i> Genus of insects

Protohermes is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. Protohermes is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may be a result of an association with high elevation and high slope streams in Northern Vietnam and China.

References

  1. Jones, Joshua R. (6 October 2019). "Total‐evidence phylogeny of the owlflies (Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae) supports a new higher‐level classification". Zoologica Scripta. 48 (6): 761–782. doi:10.1111/zsc.12382.
  2. See references in Haaramo (2008)