This unranked taxon, which can be treated as either a clade or superorder, brings together three, or sometimes four, related orders: NEUROPTERA (Lacewings), MEGALOPTERA (Alderflies), RAPHIDIOPTERA (Snakeflies) and, although now separated, MECOPTERA (Scorpionflies).

 

All four orders are covered by the 'British Isles Neuropterida Recording Scheme', also known as the 'Lacewings and Allies Recording Scheme' as the vast majority of the 80 plus species that occur in Britain are lacewings.

 

The group are generally described as fairly primitive-looking insects with large, albeit rather weak, wings that given them a clumsy flight. The adults of most species are more active at dusk or during the night, which can make them difficult to find although, from my experience, that doesn't necessarily apply to scorpionflies, as they can be readily seen and photographed during the daytime.

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The larvae are predators which, in respect of certain green lacewing species, has led to an industry that actually breeds and sells them to gardeners as a natural and very effective way of controlling pests, notably aphids, but also greenfly and other soft-bodied insects including young caterpillars. The larvae are actually quite interesting, which is why I've given them their own page.

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