Raphidioptera
Sign in to saveSnakeflies are a group of predatory insects comprising the order Raphidioptera, from Ancient Greek ῥαφίς (rhaphís), meaning "needle", and πτερόν (pterón), meaning "wing", with two extant families: Raphidiidae and Inocelliidae, consisting of roughly 260 species. In the past, the group had a much wider distribution than it does now; snakeflies are found in temperate regions worldwide but are absent from the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere. Recognizable representatives of the group first appeared during the Early Jurassic. They are a relict group, having reached their apex of diversity during
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Raphidioptera, commonly called snakeflies, is an order of predatory insects with around 260 species found in temperate regions worldwide, named for their needle-like wings and elongated bodies. Though they were once much more widespread and diverse, snakeflies today are largely absent from tropical and Southern Hemisphere regions, making them a relict group that has survived since the Early Jurassic period.
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Neuropterida
- Image
- Dichrostigma flavipes beentree.jpg
Show 3 more facts
- P105
- order
Article
11 sectionsContents
- Description
- Distribution and habitat
- Life cycle
- Ecology
- Evolution
- Fossil history
- Phylogeny
- Possible biological pest control agents
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Snakeflies are a group of predatory insects comprising the order Raphidioptera, from Ancient Greek ῥαφίς (rhaphís), meaning "needle", and πτερόν (pterón), meaning "wing", with two extant families: Raphidiidae and Inocelliidae, consisting of roughly 260 species. In the past, the group had a much wider distribution than it does now; snakeflies are found in temperate regions worldwide but are absent from the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere. Recognizable representatives of the group first appeared during the Early Jurassic. They are a relict group, having reached their apex of diversity during the Cretaceous before undergoing substantial decline.
An adult snakefly resembles a lacewing in appearance but has a notably elongated thorax which, together with the mobile head, gives the group their common name. The body is long and slender and the two pairs of long, membranous wings are prominently veined. Females have a large and sturdy ovipositor which is used to deposit eggs in some concealed location. They are holometabolous insects with a four-stage life cycle consisting of eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. In most species, the larvae develop under the bark of trees. They may take several years before they undergo metamorphosis, requiring a period of chilling before pupation takes place. Both adults and larvae are predators of soft-bodied arthropods.