Osmylidae

Osmylidae
Porismus strigatus, Black Mountain, Canberra (Australia)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Neuroptera
Family:	Osmylidae Linnaeus, 1758
Subfamilies
Eidoporisminae Gumillinae Kempyninae Osmylinae Porisminae Spilosmylinae Stenosmylinae and see text

Wing of Osmylus fulvicephalus

Larva of Osmylus fulvicephalus

Osmylidae are a small family of winged insects of the net-winged insect order Neuroptera. The osmylids, also called giant lacewings,^[1] are found all over the world except in North America. A common species through most of Europe is Osmylus fulvicephalus.

Description and ecology

Adult osmylids are small to moderately-sized net-winged insects, with wingspans ranging from 1.4 to 3 cm. Smaller members resemble typical green lacewings, and larger species resemble antlions. Many species, namely those of the type genus Osmylus, have spotted wings. The thin antennae are short. They have two compound eyes, as well as three ocelli in between. Adult osmylids, like green lacewings (colloquially known as "stinkflies"), have prothoracal glands which produce foul-smelling compounds used to deter would-be predators.

Their larvae are superficially similar to those of spongillaflies (Sisyridae). They have peculiar mouthparts which look like a thin forceps with the ends bending outwards. The body is elongated and slender and terminates in two extensible graspers bearing tiny hooks; these are used to aid in locomotion and to grasp prey. The larvae are associated with damp, mossy habitats and are amphibious. They hunt small invertebrate prey, from which they suck the body fluids with their mouthparts.

The adults are diurnal or crepuscular weak-flying insects which mostly prey on small invertebrates, supplemented with some pollen. Eggs are deposited in damp places, usually near freshwater.

Systematics and taxonomy

The osmylids are rather nondescript as adults, but among the Neuroptera they were generally assigned to suborder Hemerobiiformia (lacewing relatives). The Sisyridae (spongillaflies) were formerly believed to be closely related, even a sister group. But as it seems they are well distinct, the presumed close relationship being mistaken due to their larvae's superficial similarity caused by convergent evolution. Later, the green lacewings (Chrysopidae) were held to be the osmylids' closest living relatives; together with some prehistoric lineages the Chrysopidae form superfamily Chrysopoidea which was considered sister to the presently monotypic Osmyloidea. However, mitochondrial DNA data found the Osmylidae to be basal to these as well as to the Myrmeleontiformia. In other words, the osmylids may be the most ancient living lineage of Neuroptera. Fossils described in 2016 indicate they are of Jurassic or Early Cretaceous origin (see below). Their relationships to the numerous incertae sedis groups of Mesozoic Neuroptera can now be reinvestigated with regard to this hypothesis.^[2]

The two subfamilies Eidoporisminae and Porisminae each contain only a single species, Eidoporismus pulchellus and Porismus strigatus, respectively. Both are endemic to Australia. A basal extinct member not assignable to a subfamily, Protosmylus, has been found fossilized in middle Eocene Baltic amber.^[3] The genus Burmaleon was described from two fossils found in Cenomanian age Burmese amber and referred to subfamily Gumillinae, implying an Early Cretaceous or earlier age for the crown group radiation.^[4]

Footnotes

This article draws heavily on the corresponding article in the German-language Wikipedia.

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