Owlfly

Description:

Dragonfly-like insect with large bulging eyes and strongly knobbed antennae. Neuropteran in the family Ascalaphidae. Libelloides macaronius, amongst other European owlflies, is a rapidly-flying neuropteran insect which hunts in open country for other flying insects. European owlflies hunt their flying preys using their ultraviolet vision. This on the one hand it permits the accurate pursuit of flying prey, but on the other, it limits hunting to sunny periods. This limitation is reflected in the animal's hunting behavior. Owlflies fly on sunny days with clear blue skies, but not if the sun is obscured. As soon as a cloud covers the sky, they land and wait until the sky is unobscured again.

Habitat:

Meadow in Seih-Sou, the suburban forest of Thessaloniki (Greece).