RAPHIDIOPTERA (SNAKE-FLIES) COLLECTION HOLDINGS

Families of Raphidioptera

Raphidioptera, or snake-flies are distributed over most of Europe and Asia where trees prevail, as well as western North America and Nearctic parts of Mexico. Adults are very distinctive, with an elongate pronotum, reminding some people of a certain snake-like quality. Larvae are arboreal predators, feeding on insects found on or beneath the bark of tree trunks. Pupation occurs beneath the surface of bark, and pupae can be quite active. Larvae and pupae are often encountered when residents bring firewood inside a home. As the wood warms up, the larvae and pupae begin to move around the house. Adults are also predators on soft-bodied insects.

The two families can be rather easily separated: Inocellidae have much longer, thicker antennae; the pterostigma is much darker and more pronounced; and ocelli are absent.

Family Inocellidae

 

Family Raphidiidae

Last Update: 23 October 1997

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