''Micromus'' is a
genus of
lacewing
The insect order Neuroptera, or net-winged insects, includes the lacewings, mantidflies, antlions, and their relatives. The order consists of some 6,000 species. Neuroptera can be grouped together with the Megaloptera and Raphidioptera in t ...
s in the
family Hemerobiidae
Hemerobiidae is a family of Neuropteran insects commonly known as brown lacewings, comprising about 500 species in 28 genera. Most are yellow to dark brown, but some species are green. They are small; most have forewings 4–10 mm long (som ...
(the brown lacewings). These small (4–10 mm long) insects are found worldwide.
[The Global Biodiversity Information Facility: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy doi:10.15468/39omei Accessed via https://www.gbif.org/species/2097002 on 2016-09-12] Like most lacewings, both the
larvae and adults are
predatory, primarily eating
acarines,
scale insect
Scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, suborder Sternorrhyncha. Of dramatically variable appearance and extreme sexual dimorphism, they comprise the infraorder Coccomorpha which is considered a more convenient grouping than the ...
s,
psyllids,
aphids,
thrips, and the eggs of
lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...
ns and
whiteflies
Whiteflies are Hemipterans that typically feed on the undersides of plant leaves. They comprise the family Aleyrodidae, the only family in the superfamily Aleyrodoidea. More than 1550 species have been described.
Description and taxonomy
The ...
. The species ''
Micromus tasmaniae
''Micromus tasmaniae'', known as the Tasmanian brown lacewing, is a species of brown lacewing in the family Hemerobiidae. It is widespread in Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands such as New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
Description and ecol ...
'' has been mass-bred for
biological pest control
Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also invo ...
in Australia.
Species
There are more than
80 species in the genus, and possibly as many as 170.
[
]
Micromus africanus 009733-1.jpg, ''Micromus africanus''
Micromus angulatus.jpg, ''Micromus angulatus''
Micromus bifasciatus AMNZ75301.jpg, ''Micromus bifasciatus''
Micromus posticus.jpg, ''Micromus posticus''
Micromus variegatus01.jpg, ''Micromus variegatus''
Brown Lacewing Larva (30941270143).jpg, Campodeiform larva of ''Micromus posticus
''Micromus posticus'' is a species of brown lacewing in the family Hemerobiidae
Hemerobiidae is a family of Neuropteran insects commonly known as brown lacewings, comprising about 500 species in 28 genera. Most are yellow to dark brown, but s ...
''
References
External links
Hemerobiiformia
Neuroptera genera
{{neuroptera-stub