ANT-LIONS, LACEWINGSAND RELATIVESORDER NEUROPTERA

A varied group of insects, linked by havingmembranous net-veined wings, commonlyheld roof-wise over the body. Antennae

thin and thread-like. Most species are car­

nivorous in adult and larval stages.

* Ant-lionMyrmelcOIl (imllicarius

Body slender, brownish, about 40mm long,

with a wingspan of up to 80mm. Wingsmembranous and virtually unmarked. Topof head dark brown or black. The larvae

construct little craters, in which they sit

hidden at the base with just their jaws

exposed. Small invertebrates fall in and are

immediately grabbed, though sometimesthe larva will shower sand-grains over the

victim to speed its fall.The craters are often

the first sign of the presence of this species.Habitat Dry sandy places such as heathsand dunes.Status and distribution Local from S

Scandinavia southwards, commonest in the

south.Season 5-8.

Similar speciesCould be confused with duller damselflies,

but the latter have much more visible

abdomens, and very short antennae.* Ant-lion Aconthoc/isis boetico is larger

and more robust, up to 50mm long. It

occurs mainly on sand-dunes, and reachesnorthwards to N France.

* Euroleon nostros is a smaller species, about

35mm long, with lightly spotted wings.Local in scrub and open woodland from SScandinavia southwards.

112 NEUROPTERA

* Ascalaphidl.ihcl/oides Ir!llgicomis

Although this group only just reaches. intothe region, its members are highly distinc­tive and frequently noticed. They resemble

dragonflies, holding their wings open when

stopping briefly, though they fold them

over the body when at rest. The wings areheavily marked with black and yellow, and

the wingspan is about 60mm. The longantennae are heavily clubbed.

Habitat Sunny flowery slopes and pas­tures.

Status and distribution From central

Europe southwards, mainly south-western,most common in S Europe.Season 6-9.

Similar speciesMay be distinguished from dragonflies as a

group by the clubbed long antennae, andthe folding of the wings if seen at rest.

* L coccojus is a very similar species, but

has veins all dark (no yellow ones) and a

slightly dark patch at the base of the hind­

wing. It is a southern species that justreaches the area.

* Mantis Fly

Malltispa styriacaResembles a small Praying Mantis, but is

only 15-20mm long, pale brown in colour,with delicate clear wings. Carnivorous, but

not aggressive.Habitat Woodland and dry, scrubby,

warm places.Status and distribution A southern

species, found from N France southwards.Season 6-8.

lacewings, Families Chrysopidaeand Hemerobiidae

These two families include both the green

and the brown lacewings, though they are

not so readily distinguished by colour as thename suggests. They have delicate membra­

nous wings, heavily veined with numerous

cross-veins, and a generally delicate appear­

ance. Mostly green or brown in colour, withwings held roof-wise over the body.

Giant lacewing

Osmylus (ull'icl'fihalusThe largest British species of lacewing, with

a wingspan of about 50mm. The wings are

mottled with brown, sometimes heavily. A

slow, clumsy flier, mainly nocturnal in habits.

Habitat Along wooded and sh2dystreams, resting under leaves or below

bridges during the day.Status and distribution A southern

species, absent from N Britain and the

north part of the Continent; locally com­mon in the south.

Season 5--8.

Green lacewing

Chrysopa camea

A pale green insect with unspotted, deli­

cate, membranous wings; becomes pinkishin autumn. The length from the head to the

wing-tips is about 18mm. Antennae longand slender.

Habitat A wide range of habitats withtrees and shrubs. Often enters houses inautumn and winter.

Status and distribution Very common

throughout.Season Most common 5-10, but individ­

uals may be seen all winter.Similar species

C. perla is more bluish-green in colour,

strongly marked with black on the head andbody. In woods and hedgerows, absentfrom the north.

114 NEUROPTERA

C. septempunctata is bright green, and has a

black spot (actually 7 small spots) on top ofthe head. Similar habitats and distribution.

All the green lacewing larvae are carniv­

orous. They may cover themselves withremains of their victims, or other material.

The eggs are distinctive, laid in batches or

singly, at the end of long stalks.

Brown lacewingKimmil1sia sulmelJIIlosa

One of a number of rather similar insects,

generally similar in shape to green

lacewings, but only about IOmm long. Theyare brownish or greyish, with clear wings.Habitat Sheltered woodland and scrub.

Status and distribution Widespread

and common, though easily overlooked.

Season Mainly 4-10.Similar species

Wesmaelius quadrifasciatus is slightly larger,

and has wings marked with brownblotches. Mainly in coniferous woodlandand scrub.

Alder FlySialis IUlaria

Although rather similar to the Brown

Lacewing, this is a surprisingly distinctive

species, with its smoky brown wings, boldlymarked with dark veins, held roof-wise

over the body. Body is dark brown, about

20-25mm long. Flies weakly, and settlesreadily on waterside vegetation.Habitat The larvae are aquatic, and the

adults are usually found near vegetated

stretches of still or slow-moving water.Status and distribution Common

throughout.Season 4--8.

Similar speciesThere is one other British species, S. fuligi­

nosa, which is darker, less common,

appears slightly later (from late June

onwards), and prefers faster-flowingwaters.

Snow Flea

HorcllS hycmalisResembles the other scorpion flies in hav­

ing the same 'beak' and similar body shape,but is much smaller (barely IOmm long) andvet)' short-winged. The male has no

upturned abdomen. The body is dark, andthe female has a sword-like ovipositor.

Habitat Mossy places, especially wherethere is regular snow.Status and distribution Locally com­

mon, mainly northern and upland.

Season Through the winter, from 10onwards; very hardy and active even insnow.

and yellow, about 20mm long, with awingspan of about 30mm. The wings are

spotted with black and black-tipped

(though the pattern is variable).

Habitat Open woods, hedgerows andscrub.

Status and .distribution Widespread

and generally frequent.Season 4-8, most frequently seen in earlysummer.

Similar species

P. germanica is very similar in size and shape

but has lighter wing markings and parallel

male 'pincers' (more calliper-shaped inCommon Scorpion Fly,but not easy to sep­

arate). Similar habitats, but less common.

P. cogna(Q is smaller, and the sixth abdomi­

nal segment is noticeably square. Similarhabitats, local.

* P. meridiana/is is a more heavily spotted

species, from central France southwards.

Snake Fly/{afJhidia lIo/ataAs a small group of species, the Snake Flies

are distinctive, looking rather like an AlderFly with a long snake-like neck which may

be raised upwards. Brown in colour, theslender body is about IS-18mm long,

excluding the female's long needle-likeovipositor. Both adults and larvae are car­

nivorous, and they are unusual in havingmobile pupae.

Habitat Mainly in old woodland, espe­

cially where old tree-stumps are present(the larvae feed on other larvae in dead

wood).Status and distribution Local but wide­

spread. Never common.Season S-7.

Similar speciesThere are 3 other species of Snake Fly inthe UK.

R. maculicollis is very similar, with a slightlynarrower head, and is probably the com­

monest species; mainly in conifers.R. confinis has a more triangular head.

R. xanthastigma is the smallest species,barely IOmm long.

SCORPION FLIESORDER MECOPTERA

A very small order of insects as far as N .Europe is concerned, with just 4 species in

Britain, and about 8 through the region.

They are mostly quite distinctive, with astrongly defined downward-pointing beak

on the head (see photo); the abdomen of

the males of most species is upturned,

resembling that of a scorpion. They arescavengers or weakly predatory, and thelarvae resemble a moth caterpillar.

Common Scorpion FlyPanorpa communis

This ~pecies follows the general patterndescribed above. The body is mainly black

116 NEUROPTE.RA· MECOPTERA

Snow Flea ~

118 LEPIDOPTERA

BUTTERFLIES ANDMOTHSORDER LEPIDOPTERA

* Scarce Swallowtail

Iphiclides podalirills

A striking species, resembling the Swallow­

tail, but the wings have a more striped

(rather than netted) appearance, and the

'tails' are even longer. The pale areas arecream-coloured rather than yellow in fresh

specimens. The larva is green, with smallred dots and yellow stripes.Habitat Warm, sheltered grassy/scrubby

areas. The food-plants include Hawthorn,Blackthorn and various cultivated fruit

trees.Status and distribution A southern

species, extending to N Germany but verylocal through most of the region.

Season 5-9, depending on latitude.

Butte rflies

Swallowtail

Fa/Jilio ll1aChaOIl

A large distinctive butterfly, with a wing­

span of 70-80mm, boldly marked with

black and yellow. The hindwings have longtails, an uncommon feature in N Europeanbutterflies. Males and females are similar.

Larvae are green and black striped, with reddots.

Habitat Confined to damp fens in the

UK; more widespread in rough flowery

places on the Continent. Various Umbellif­erae are the food-plants.Status and distribution Rare and con­

fined to East Anglia in the UK; widespreadand frequent throughout the Continent .

Season Usually 6-9.Similar speciesSee Scarce Swallowtail, below.

All the regularly occurring British species are

covered in the following pages, together

with many of those from the rest of the

region. The larvae are onJy described and/orillustrated where they are especially striking

or frequently seen.

sawfly larvalepidoptera larva

. ~~~,The division into butterflies and moths is

not matched by an exact scientific division:

both groups are drawn from a range of fam­ilies. Butterflies are all day-flying, brightly

coloured, and usually rest with the wings

held together over the head, except when

sunbathing. They have slender clubbedantennae, similar in males and females.

Moths are mainly nocturnal (though there

are many day-fliers), and tend to have

duller colours (though there are manybright ones). The wings are usually held flat,

or angled roof-like over the body. The

antennae of moths are nearly always not

clubbed, and they are usually hairy or feath­ery, especially in males.

A large and important order, with many

familiar species. Collectively, they have 2pairs of membranous wings, heavily clothed

with coloured scales that give pattern and

colour. A few species have wingless females.

The mouthparts are usually in the form of a

long slender tube, spirally coiled when notin use, used for sucking nectar and other flu­

ids, though some species do not feed asadults, and have reduced mouthparts.

The larvae (caterpillars) are all herbivo­rous, and some are well known as pests.

Caterpillars usually have 3 pairs of true legsat the head end, and several (usually 5) pairsof stumpy prolegs towards the rear. The

number of prolegs can help to distinguishLepidoptera caterpillars from those of saw­

flies (see p.240), which nearly always have

6 or more pairs of prolegs.

* Black-veined WhiteAf)()ria crataegi

An attractive medium-large butterfly. with

a wingspan of about 60mm. Distinguished

from other 'whites' by the conspicuous

black veining on the wings, especially the

underside. Sexes broadly similar.Habitat The food-plants are Blackthornand Hawthorn. and the butterflies occur in

many flowery places with these shrubs.

Status and distribution Widespread.though declining in the north; common inthe south. Extinct in Britain.

Season 5-7.

Similar speciesMight be confused with Black-veined Moth

Siano lineata (see p.168), but this is only halfthe size.

Large Whitel'ieris /!rassicae

A familiar butterfly. easily the largest of the

common ·whites'. with a wingspan of60-70mm. Basically white. with black

forewing-tips. Female has black spots on

upper side of forewings. and is yellowerbelow.

Habitat Almost anywhere. especially in

gardens, wherever cruciferous food plants

(including Brassica species) occur; a verymobile butterfly.

Status and distribution Widespread

and common or abundant throughout.though varying year to year.Season 4-10.

Similar speciesSee Small White, below.

Small White

l'ieris ""paeA medium-sized butterfly. very familiar as

the archetypal 'Cabbage White'. Wingspanabout 40-50mm; basically white, with

blackish forewing-tips. and females havemore marked black spotting. Much smaller

than Large White. and less boldly marked.

120 LEPIDOPTERA

Habitat Almost anywhere flowery. but

especially common around gardens. Not asmobile as the Large White.

Status and distribution Very common

everywhere; a frequent pest of gardens and

crops.Season 4-10.

Green-veined Whitel'ieris lIapi

An attractive butterfly. slightly smaller than

the Small White, and distinguished by thelines of grey-green scales along the veins on

the undersides of the hindwings; in general

second-generation butterflies (in summer)

are less 'green-veined' than spring ones.

Habitat A variety of flowery, damp. usu­

ally sunny habitats. less commonly in gar­

dens and never a pest of Brassica species.Main food-plants are Garlic Mustard andCuckoo Flower.

Status and distribution Common

throughout. though never abundant.

Season 3-9. depending on location.Similar speciesSee Bath White. below.

* Bath Whitel'(mtia daplidice

An attractive butterfly. similar to Green­veined White in size. The undersides of the

hindwings, in particular. are heavily mottled

with greenish-grey. more extensively thanin Green-veined White; upper surfaces of

wings are spotted and mottled with black.

Habitat Rough. warm. flowery places.

Food-plants include Wild Mignonette andvarious crucifers.

Status and distribution An occasional

vagrant to the UK. A southern species thatreaches north to S Scandinavia. but

becomes rare north of the Alps.Season 4-9. usually with a gap in the mid­dle.

Similar species

See Orange-tip (female). below.