Micromus

Summary

Micromus is a genus of lacewings in the family Hemerobiidae (the brown lacewings). These small (4–10 mm long) insects are found worldwide.[1] Like most lacewings, both the larvae and adults are predatory, primarily eating acarines, scale insects, psyllids, aphids, thrips, and the eggs of lepidopterans and whiteflies. The species Micromus tasmaniae has been mass-bred for biological pest control in Australia.[2]

Micromus
Micromus tasmaniae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Neuroptera
Family: Hemerobiidae
Genus: Micromus
Rambur, 1842
Synonyms
  • Ameromicromus Nakahara, 1960
  • Menutus Navás, 1932
  • Pseudopsectra Perkins in Sharp, 1899

Species edit

There are more than 80 species in the genus, and possibly as many as 170.[3][4]

References edit

  1. ^ The Global Biodiversity Information Facility: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy doi:10.15468/39omei Accessed via https://www.gbif.org/species/2097002 on 2016-09-12
  2. ^ New, TR (2002). "Prospects for extending the use of Australian lacewings in biological control" (PDF). Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. 48 (Supplement 2): 209–216.
  3. ^ "Micromus (Brown Lacewings) - Taxonomy". Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Browse Micromus". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-02-28.