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Project Noah Nature School
Porismus strigatus
Glossy black coloured wings with white patterns and some metallic highlights at certain angles. Abdomen is completely covered by the wings. The head is orange with black eyes and fine black antennae. Legs black to dark brown. Long 'neck'. Wings in tall narrow tent shape.
Three metres up the trunk of a large E. melliodora there were approximately 6 individuals.
Order: Neuroptera.. Family: Osmylidae.. Only later I found the 'eggs' in the background of pic #1. I doubt they are related to the porismus but can't yet confirm. Apparently they are often found in pairs just staring into each others eyes for days. (pic #2) They easily took flight upon approach and flew somewhat chaotically - slightly like a butterfly or moth. http://australianmuseum.net.au/Lacewings...
Spotted on Apr 20, 2012
Submitted on Apr 20, 2012
18 Comments
Thanks James. Glad you liked these. Yep there's some weird stuff here and the best bit it most is still unidentified. Come and have a look some time. :-)
Awesome Mark, great images as always, you have the coolest stuff down there in your wonderful country! Thanks as always for sharing!
Thanks Stephen & Lauren. I'm starting to realise this was a special and unusual find. Haven't seen them since. It is a little like those snakeflies... very 'necky'
This is so beautiful! It looks like our California "Dinosaur Bug", or Snakefly, also a Neuropteran, but in the family Raphidiidae…
http://www.fotolog.com/treebeard/6140322...
Crazy lacewings, Nice!
Thanks WT and Mary. Still waiting after the 'and' Mary? :-)
Nice colours and pattern.
What an interesting looking bug- wonderful spot and information- greatly detailed images and
Thank you Ashish.
Amazing organism... Thanks for sharing on Project Noah...!!
Thanks martin, leuba, leanne. You're right martin it looks a real dag to me :)
Nice spotting argybee. This creature looks like a clown. I have seen these once before in Gippsland also several in one group. Typically eggs are on stalks and yours seem hemipteran.
This is a really great spotting-very good photos too !
Wow! These are great Argybee! What beautiful colours. Definately the prettiest lacewing I've ever seen.
Thanks harsuame and oxyjack. Asergio you're right - when I saw these I was surprised because nearly all insect life has gone here being autumn. Thanks to PN though I guessed what type it might be pretty well straight away. Must be learning something here I guess :)
Argy, what a really interesting spot. The guys are beautiful, and you got a bonus, a cluster of eggs. I wonder what would happen if you put a mirror in front of one of them, maybe it would die of starvation, waiting the other to blink first !!!
Absolutely gorgeous!
Interesante insecto bellas series