Subfamily Stilbopteryginae - Giant Lacewing

Family Myrmeleontidae

Stilbopterygidae was recently (1982) reduced to a subfamily under Myrmeleontidae.


Silver Giant Lacewing

Stilbopteryx costalis, body length 35mm
In Dec 2005, we saw at least two of them in Karawatha Forest, Brisbane. We did not saw them in any other place. They are large in size, with silvery-grey colour body. They are the very good flyer comparing with the other Lacewings species that we found. More pictures and information can be found in this page.


Black Giant Lacewing

Stilbopteryx walkeri, body length 35mm
Black Lacewing are large in size, with dark brown to black colour body. They are the good flyer comparing with the other Lacewings species. When we chasing this Black Lacewing, it always flied a short distance, about a few meter, and rested on dead tree and dry stem close to the ground. We have more information and pictures in this page.

Reference and Link:
1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 541.
2. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p323.
3. Lacewings - Queensland Museum, 2011.