''Nemoptera sinuata'' is a diurnal species of spoonwing lacewing or thread-winged lacewing within the spoonwing family
Nemopteridae.
The species is distributed throughout the
Balkan peninsula
The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...
, specifically found in
Bulgaria,
East Thrace
East Thrace or Eastern Thrace ( tr, Doğu Trakya or simply ''Trakya''; el, Ανατολική Θράκη, ''Anatoliki Thraki''; bg, Източна Тракия, ''Iztochna Trakiya''), also known as Turkish Thrace or European Turkey, is the pa ...
,
Greece, and
North Macedonia.
They inhabit forests and open grasslands, with flights near river gorges as well.
Individuals are 16 mm in length with a wingspan of 55 mm.
Life history
''Nemoptera sinuata'' is primarily diurnal, the flight period lasts from mid-May to late June. They only emerge if conditions are above 17°C with little to no wind.
It primarily feeds on pollen. Studies have shown that ''N. sinuata'' primarily feeds on the pollen of ''
Alyssum murale
''Alyssum'' is a genus of over a hundred species of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region. The genus comprises annual and per ...
'', ''
Cota austriaca'', and ''
Achillea coarctata''.
Eggs are laid on the ground, females lay up to 70 eggs during the early morning. The eggs are dormant for 23-25 days until hatching. The larvae are unusual for other lacewings in that they are primarily herbivorous, rejecting other insect prey in favour of water and vegetable sap.
Gallery
Kite bug - Nemoptera sinuata.jpg
Nemoptera sinuata1.jpg
Unbekannter Flieger.jpg
References
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1893989
Neuroptera
Neuroptera of Europe
Insects described in 1811
Taxa named by Guillaume-Antoine Olivier