Gold Coast Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera)Nymphes myrmeleonides (Blue Eyes Lacewing) Suhpalacsa flavipes (Yellow Owlfly)

Known as the Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonides) is an Australian insect in the order Neuroptera. Other common names include Common Lacewing and Giant Orange Lacewing. It has been found along the east coast of Australia, from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.

The Blue Eyes Lacewing pictured here are from the Gold Coast region of Queensland.

Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

The species have a body length of up to 4 cm and a wingspan of up to 11 cm, with each wing ending in a white tip. The larvae of Nymphes myrmeleonides resemble antlions and construct pit traps by burrowing into loose soil.

Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Neuroptera
  • Superfamily: Myrmeleontoidea
  • Family: Nymphidae
  • Genus: Nymphes
  • Species: Nymphes myrmeleonoides

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Stefan Jones
  2. Nymphes myrmeleonoides Leach, 1814, Blue Eyes Lacewing, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/4be483c5-5e70-4143-8c89-86329d146c41
  3. Blue Eyes Lacewing (Nymphes myrmeleonoides), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/487367-Nymphes-myrmeleonoides

Gold Coast Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera)Nymphes myrmeleonides (Blue Eyes Lacewing) Suhpalacsa flavipes (Yellow Owlfly)

Gold Coast InsectsAntlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera) Ants Bees Beetles Bugs (Hemiptera & Heteroptera) Buterflies & Moths Flies (Diptera) Wasps

Gold Coast RegionFauna

QueenslandQueensland Fauna Gold Coast Region Lamington National Park Southern Downs QLD