File: <nemopter.htm> Glossary <Principal Natural Enemy Groups > <Citations> <Home>

NEUROPTERA, Nemopteridae -- <Images> & <Juveniles>

[This group is generally included in the Nymphidae]

Clausen (1940) noted this as a separate family of Neuroptera, with just a few species that are closely related morphologically to Myrmeleontidae. Very long and narrow hind wings distinguish adults. Larvae show a decided constriction between the head and thorax, which reaches its greatest development in the grotesque Necrophylus arenarius Roux, a species occurring in the tombs of Egypt and under ledges along the Nile. The neck is very slender and as long as the rest of the body. Larvae live in the dust on the floors of caves, in neglected buildings and in other sheltered spots.

Croce filipennis Westw. (Ghosh 1910, Imms 1911) lives in abandoned buildings where the larvae prey on passing insects, especially Dermestidae and Psocidae, the latter of which is probably preferred. The eggs are oval and the cocoons spherical, both of which are also found in the dust on the floor. The life cycle is one year, of which the egg and pupal stages take 10-12 and 18-22 days, respectively.

References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional references may be found at: MELVYL Library]