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Category: Insect & spider

Leg with/without claw

The legs are long and slender, with fine projecting hairs (confusion with legs of Arachnidae is possible). The legs end in two claws, often flexed sidewards.

 neuroptera leg with claw  neuroptera leg with claw2  neuroptera leg  
leg with claw leg with claw leg fragments  

Wing

The wings are delicate and transparent, with characteristic net-like venation often with spike-like structures along the veins. Distinguishing between the various families of the Order is possible with semi-complete wings. Hemerobiidae (brown lacewing):Bifurcated cross veins along the costal margin of the wing.  Chrysopidae (green lacewing): Simple cross veins along the costal margin of the wing. More complex venation.

 neuroptera wing  neuroptera wing2 neuroptera wing4  neuroptera wing detail 
wing of Chrysopidae detail of wing  wing of Hemerobiidae  detail of wing

Antenna

The antennae are monifiliform, like a string of beads. Individual segments are  cylindrical of round, covered in fine hairs

neuroptera antennae neuroptera antennae2 neuroptera antennae3 neuroptera antennae4
Chrysopidae antenna   Chrysopidae antenna Hemerobiidae antenna

 

head, eye

The eyes are small

neuroptera eye  
eye  

 

Other, tail