Snakefly

A snakefly is a long, thin bug.

It has a long neck. This makes it look like a snake.

The bug has two pairs of long wings. These wings have lines on them.

Snakeflies eat other small bugs. The babies also eat small bugs. The babies often live under tree bark. They can live there for many years.

These bugs go through four stages. They start as eggs. Then they are babies. Next they are pupae. Finally they are adults.

Some snakeflies live in forests. Most live in Europe and Asia. They like cool places. They do not live in hot lands.

Snakeflies are very old. They lived a long time ago. They look like old bugs from fossils.

A snakefly is a type of hunting insect.

They get their name from a long neck. This part is called a prothorax. It helps them move their heads. Their bodies are long and thin. They have two pairs of long wings. These wings have many lines on them.

Snakeflies have a four-stage life cycle. This is called holometabolous. They start as eggs. Then they become larvae, which are the babies.

Next, they are pupae. Finally, they become adults. The larvae often live under tree bark. They can stay in this stage for many years. Some live for six years! They need a period of cold weather to grow into adults.

Both the babies and adults hunt for food. They eat small, soft bugs like mites and aphids. Snakeflies are very old. They lived during the Jurassic period. They look much like the fossils from that time. Most live in Europe and Asia. They like cool forests. They do not live in hot, tropical lands.

Snakeflies are a special group of hunting insects. Their scientific name is Raphidioptera. This name comes from Greek words meaning "needle" and "wing."

They belong to a group of insects that undergo a complete change in body shape. There are about 260 different species alive today. These insects live in two main families called Raphidiidae and Inocelliidae. Most snakeflies like to live in cool, temperate forests. They are not found in hot, tropical places or the Southern Hemisphere.

An adult snakefly has a very distinct look. It has a long, slender body and two pairs of long wings. These wings have many visible veins and a colored spot called a pterostigma. The most famous part is the prothorax. This is a long section behind the head that lets the head move easily. This long neck is why they are called snakeflies. The head is often flat and has large eyes on the sides. Females also have a sturdy part called an ovipositor to lay eggs. They use this to tuck eggs into safe cracks or under bark.

Snakeflies have a life cycle with four stages. They start as eggs and then hatch into larvae.

The larvae often live under the bark of trees. They can stay in this stage for a long time. Some species stay as larvae for two to three years. Other species can stay in this stage for six years! After the larval stage, they become pupae. To finish this change, they need a period of cold weather. This chilling helps them move into the final adult stage.

These insects have a very long history on Earth. They first appeared during the Early Jurassic period. They were much more common during the Cretaceous period. However, a huge event likely changed everything for them. An enormous asteroid is thought to have hit Earth 66 million years ago. This event may have wiped out most snakefly families. Only the species that could handle the cold survived. Because they look so much like ancient fossils, people call them living fossils.

Both the babies and the adults are predators. This means they hunt other small living things for food. Adults often hunt for mites and aphids.

The larvae live in places like tree bark or leaf litter. They eat small creatures like spiders, mites, and springtails. Because they hunt these pests, some people think they could help farmers. However, snakeflies grow their numbers very slowly. This makes them a hard job for farmers to use as pest control. Many birds, like woodpeckers, also like to eat them.

Snakeflies belong to the order Raphidioptera. The name comes from Ancient Greek words meaning "needle" and "wing."

There are approximately 260 living species today. These insects are divided into two families: Raphidiidae and Inocelliidae. They are predatory insects, which means they hunt other creatures for food. Most snakeflies live in temperate regions of the world. However, they are not found in the tropics or the Southern Hemisphere.

An adult snakefly has a very distinct body shape. It has a long and slender body. The insect possesses two pairs of long, membranous wings. These wings have a primitive venation pattern, which refers to the arrangement of veins. They also feature a colored wingspot called a pterostigma.

The most recognizable feature is the elongated prothorax. The prothorax is the first segment of the thorax behind the head. This long segment allows the head to be very mobile. This movement is why people call them snakeflies. The head is often flattened and heavily sclerotised, meaning it is hardened.

Scientists distinguish the two families by looking at specific traits. Members of the family Raphidiidae have three distinct ocelli. Ocelli are simple eyes used for sensing light. In contrast, members of the Inocelliidae family have no ocelli at all. You can also tell them apart by looking at the pterostigma. Inocelliids lack a specific cross vein in this wingspot that Raphidiids possess. Both families have females with a large, sturdy ovipositor. An ovipositor is a specialized organ used to deposit eggs. They use it to place eggs in crevices or under tree bark.

Snakeflies are holometabolous insects. This means they undergo a four-stage life cycle consisting of eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults.

The eggs hatch into larvae within a few days to three weeks. The larvae have large heads and projecting mandibles, which are biting mouthparts. While their heads are hard, the rest of their bodies are soft and fleshy. They do not have prolegs, but they do have an adhesive organ on their abdomen. This organ helps them fasten themselves to vertical surfaces. The larval stage can last for a long time. Some species stay as larvae for two to three years, while others can last six years.

Metamorphosis requires specific environmental conditions. All snakeflies need a period of cool temperatures to induce pupation. This chilling process is necessary to move from the larval stage to the pupal stage. Most species pupate in the spring or early summer. This stage usually lasts from a few days to three weeks. If a larva begins pupating in late summer, it may take ten months to emerge as an adult. In laboratory settings, insects kept at constant temperatures can become "prothetelous." These insects develop adult features like compound eyes but live for years without finishing metamorphosis.

Snakeflies have a very ancient evolutionary history. They first appeared during the Early Jurassic period. They reached their peak of diversity during the Cretaceous period. However, an enormous asteroid likely hit Earth 66 million years ago. This event is known as the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event. This catastrophe likely wiped out most snakefly families. It specifically extinguished tropical and sub-tropical species. Only the most cold-tolerant species survived. Because modern snakeflies closely resemble those from 140 million years ago, they are often called living fossils.

These insects play an important role in their ecosystems as predators. Both adults and larvae eat soft-bodied arthropods. Adults are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They are important predators of mites and aphids.

Larvae live in places like tree bark, leaf litter, or rock crevices. They eat the eggs and larvae of spiders, barklice, and springtails. Because they eat agricultural pests, some people have considered them for biological control. However, they grow their populations very slowly. This makes them difficult to use for farming. Additionally, they face many predators, such as woodpeckers and nuthatches.