In addition to the primary lacewing families Chrysopidae and Hemerobidae described below, the NEUROPTERA order includes three further families, Myrmeleonidae (Antlions), Coniopterygidae (Wax-flies) and Sisyridae (Sponge-flies) that are not featured and another, the Osmylidae family, that consists of a single, seldom photographed, mainly dusk-flying insect, Osmylus fulvicephalus, known as the Giant Stream Lacewing which, as far as I'm aware, hasn't been recorded in Dorset for well over thirty years.

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The remaining 50+ species in the order are the lacewings we're more familiar with seeing that are invariably termed as simply 'green lacewing' or 'brown lacewing' as they look superficially similar apart from their colour.

 

Chrysopidae (Green Lacewings)

There are actually 21 different species of 'green lacewing' of which only a couple can be reliably identified from photos. The species referred to as the Common Green Lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea is, as its name suggests, by far the most common and widespread form, but rather than being a defined species in its own right, it's actually a taxonomic complex of two or more. Adults are pale green with delicate, membranous wings that they fold across their abdomen when at rest. They have long threadlike antennae and golden compound eyes. The Chrysopa genus includes a relatively common form, Chrysopa perla, known as the Pearl Lacewing, which is a bluish-green colour with more defined dark wing veins and black markings on its head and thorax. And, in another genus, a species I'd really like to find is Nothochrysa capitata, which has a brown or greenish abdomen and orange head. It's a woodland lacewing that typically occurs on pine, although sometimes on oak according to what I've read.

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Hemerobidae (Brown Lacewings)

The situation with these species is much the same apart from there being more to consider, 31 in fact, separated into six subfamilies. They are smaller and less conspicuous than the Chrysopids. As with the 'green lacewing' there's a form known as the Common Brown Lacewing, Hemerobius humulinus, which has a body length of around 5mm and wingspan up to 18mm. Its forewings are lightish-brown with varied spotting. There are two other species in this genus that are listed as common and identifiable. The first is the Brown Pine Lacewing, Hemerobius stigma, which is another coniferous woodland insect, and the other, the Dash Lacewing, Hemerobius micans, which is more of a yellowish-brown colour. Another that can be identified is the Spotted Brown Lacewing, Micromus variegatus, which can be found in various locations, particularly where there are bushes. Its body length is around 3mm and its wing span no more than 13mm, so it's a pretty small species, but it is quite distinctive with transparent forewings that have black or dark brown marks.

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