Nemopteridae

Nemopteridae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Neuroptera
Suborder:	Planipennia
Family:	Nemopteridae
Genera
Afghanocroce Amerocroce Anacroce Apocroce Austrocroce Barbibucca Brevistoma Carnarviana Chasmoptera Concroce Croce Derhynchia Dielocroce Halter Halterina Josandreva Knersvlaktia Laurhervasia Lertha Moranida Necrophylus Nemeura Nemia Nemopistha Nemoptera Nemopterella Palmipenna Parasicyoptera Pastranaia Pterocroce Savigniella Semirhynchia Sicyoptera Stenorrhachus Thysanocroce Tjederia Veurise

Spoonwings or Nemopteridae are a family of neuropteran insects. They are also called thread-winged Antlions. They are found in the Ethiopian, Palearctic, Australasian and Neotropical regions but absent in North America (though a fossil has been found in Colorado).

Pinned museum specimen - Muséum of Toulouse

Their flight is delicate and they have a circling flight to avoid walls when they are trapped indoors. The long streamer is conspicuous when the insects are flying and these are the elongated and spatulate hindwings.

Male Nemopterids have a bulla on the wing usually along the margin or wing base that is used to disperse pheromone.

Taxonomy

There are two distinct subfamilies in the family Nemopteridae:

• Crocinae, mostly nocturnal and crepuscular species with often a narrow habitat preference. They are found in arid desert zones and have a wide distribution along the southern fringes of the west Palearctic and Western Asia, as well as in dry Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Australian areas. Includes the following genera:
  • Josandreva
  • Pterocroce
• Nemopterinae, diurnal, with a greater diversity. Genera include:
  • Barbibucca
  • Lertha
  • Nemoptera
  • Nemopterella

External links

• Taxonomy - Nemopteridae
• Larval Stages of European Nemopterinae, with Systematic Considerations on the Family Nemopteridae (Insecta, Neuroptera). Also available on Researchgate