Owlfly

Description:

Owlflies resemble a cross between a dragonfly and an ant lion. The difference is dragonflies have short bristlelike antennae and hold their wings outstretched while resting. The Owlfly sits with its body, legs and antennae compressed to a stem, and its abdomen is extended to the air resembling a broken twig. Most Owlflies are about 2 inches in length. They have slender bodies with clear wings and a pair of very long “clubbed” antennae. Adult Owlflies have large, bulging, divided eyes, which is where the common name "Owlfly" comes from. Owlfly males have prominent tufts of black bristles on top, near the base, of their slender abdomen. Female abdomens are plumper with diffused dark spots near the wing-tips, though sometimes these spots are absent or worn off. At rest, most species of Owlflies stick their abdomens in the air and wrap their wings downward around their perch.

Habitat:

Native plant school garden.