Why these ancient net-winged insects are the ultimate masters of predatory camouflage

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known as net-winged insects, the order Neuroptera includes lacewings, antlions, and mantidflies. These soft-bodied predators have thrived since the Permian period, evolving ingenious survival strategies. From larvae that disguise themselves with debris to antlions that trap prey in sand pits, these insects remain fascinating masters of natural ambush.

The order Neuroptera, derived from the Greek words for nerve and wing, encompasses roughly 6,000 species. These insects are defined by their four membranous, vein-rich wings and complete metamorphosis. While they lack the specialized adaptations seen in many other holometabolan groups, their predatory larvae are highly effective. These larvae possess elongated, piercing mandibles and a unique physiology where the midgut and hindgut are disconnected, forcing them to use Malpighian tubules to produce silk for their cocoons.

Neuropterans first emerged near the end of the Permian period, with fossils discovered in the Tunguska basin of Siberia and Australia. During the Mesozoic era, the group diversified significantly, producing the extinct Kalligrammatidae family—often called the butterflies of the Jurassic due to their large, patterned wings. While the group saw a decline in diversity following the end of the Cretaceous period, many families have persisted from the Jurassic or earlier to the present day, including the Ithonidae and the Osmylidae.

The survival strategies of these insects are remarkably diverse. Larvae of many species, such as chrysopids and hemerobiids, act as natural pest control by consuming aphids. Others exhibit extreme behaviors: antlions bury themselves to ambush prey from pits, while Sisyridae larvae are aquatic, feeding on freshwater sponges. Some mantispids have even evolved to parasitize spider egg sacs. Despite being parasitized themselves by wasps and beetles, these insects remain a resilient and widespread component of the natural world, with modern phylogenomic analysis continuing to refine our understanding of their complex evolutionary relationships.

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