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Owl flys are Dragonfly-like insects with large bulging eyes and long knobbed antennae. they are neuropteran fly of the Ascalaphidae family. Owlflies are readily distinguished from dragonflies because the latter have short bristlelike antennae and hold their wings outstretched while resting. The closely related ant-lions, family Myrmeleontidae, have shorter clavate antennae, normal-sized eyes, and a long hypostigmatic cell in the distal portion of the wingNeuroptera: Ascalaphidae.
Adult owlflies are aerial predators feeding on other insects. When disturbed, an owlfly will release a strong, musk-like, chemical to deter an enemy. Adults are most active at sunset and dawn and can often be collected around lights. During the day, adults rest on stems and twigs with the body, legs, and antennae pressed to the stem. The abdomen is held up, projecting into the air, to look like a broken twig. Most owlflies average about 2 inches in length. Adult Ululodes have large divided eyes which is where the common name Owlfly came from. Owlflies can be found in most areas of North America.*
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid on twigs. Larvae predatory, lie on ground covered with debris waiting for prey. Larvae resemble those of ant-lions, but have a "finger-like appendage" on the side of each segment. Some genera actively cement sand and debris onto their bodies as camouflage. Pupation occurs in a silk cocoon in leaf litter.Family Ascalaphidae - Owlflies BugGuide.net
References
See also
- Horse-fly
- Chrysopidae Lacewing
External Links
"Owl fly"