Neuropterida

The Neuropterida are a clade of holometabolous insects, sometimes placed at the superorder level. The clade contains the orders Neuroptera (lacewings, antlions), Megaloptera (alderflies, dobsonflies), and Raphidioptera (snakeflies), and includes over 5,700 described species.

Historically, the name Neuroptera referred to this entire group, but it now refers only to lacewings and their relatives (antlions), which were formerly known as Planipennia. As part of the Holometabola and related to beetles, they can be considered an unranked taxon. Arguably, the Holometabola might instead be considered an unranked clade, and divided into numerous superorders to signify the close relationships of certain holometabolan groups.