Hawaii Biological Survey’s

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101. Flightless Brown Lacewing

Scientific name: Micromus lobipennis

Hawaiian Name: —

Classification: Phylum: Arthropoda. Class: Insecta: Order. Neuroptera. Family: Hemerobiidae.

Origin: Endemic.

Status: Rare.

Distribution: East Maui.

Map: —


Lacewings are predators but good predators since they most always prey on our bad guys! We have green lacewings and brown lacewings and, in this case, even a flightless lacewing! This insect indeed has wings but it cannot fly. And, like some the other flightless examples found here, it doesn’t need to as it has adapted nicely to being a ground-dweller and preys on small insects it finds in the leaf litter.

   Photo © William P. Mull