Which lacewing family has fully aquatic larvae?

Which lacewing family has fully aquatic larvae?

• A. Chrysopidae (green lacewings).
• B. Hemerobiidae (brown lacewings).
• C. Sisyridae (spongillaflies).
• D. Myrmeleontidae (antlions).

Answer: (C)

Some lacewings have larvae that live their entire lives in water, which is a unique adaptation among Neuroptera. The larvae of spongillaflies are aquatic from hatching and feed on freshwater sponges and other small aquatic invertebrates in streams and ponds. This aquatic larval lifestyle is what sets them apart from other lacewing families, whose larvae are terrestrial predators: green and brown lacewing larvae hunt on vegetation or in leaf litter, while antlion larvae live in dry soil, digging pits or ambushing prey. So, the family with fully aquatic larvae is the spongillaflies.

Some lacewings have larvae that live their entire lives in water, which is a unique adaptation among Neuroptera. The larvae of spongillaflies are aquatic from hatching and feed on freshwater sponges and other small aquatic invertebrates in streams and ponds. This aquatic larval lifestyle is what sets them apart from other lacewing families, whose larvae are terrestrial predators: green and brown lacewing larvae hunt on vegetation or in leaf litter, while antlion larvae live in dry soil, digging pits or ambushing prey. So, the family with fully aquatic larvae is the spongillaflies.