Neuroptera (Net-winged insects)

This is not a large collection but I split these out of my general Insecta because I absolutely love both Ascalaphids and Antlions. As Neuroptera (Net-winged insects), they come with the Lacewings in tow. It’s a confusingly named bunch; some countries (e.g. South Africa) seem to refer to Antlions as Lacewings and the Ascalaphids are Owlflies in Australia.

I had never heard of an Ascalaphid until 2014 when we found a mass of them swarming around a meadow in France near Millau. I was instantly smitten, as I was with my first Antlion. Then I was lucky enough to find another Ascalaphid species in Andalucia two years later, and yet another one in France in 2023. I’ve added a couple from Australia.