Neuroptera

Neu`rop´te`ra    (nũ`rǒp´tė`rå)

prop. n. p

1.

(Zool.) An order of hexapod insects having two pairs of large, membranous, net-veined wings. The mouth organs are adapted for chewing. They feed upon other insects, and undergo a complete metamorphosis. The ant-lion, hellgamite, and lacewing fly are examples. Formerly, the name was given to a much more extensive group, including the true Neuroptera and the Pseudoneuroptera.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Neuroptera - an order of insects including: lacewings; antlions; dobsonflies; alderflies; fish flies; mantispids; spongeflies order Neuroptera animal order - the order of animals class Hexapoda, class Insecta, Hexapoda, Insecta - insects; about five-sixths of all known animal species neuropteran, neuropteron, neuropterous insect - insect having biting mouthparts and four large membranous wings with netlike veins family Myrmeleontidae, Myrmeleontidae - antlions Chrysopidae, family Chrysopidae - green lacewings family Hemerobiidae, Hemerobiidae - brown lacewings Megaloptera, suborder Megaloptera - in some classifications considered a separate order: alderflies; dobsonflies; snake flies family Mantispidae, Mantispidae - mantispids family Sisyridae, Sisyridae - an arthropod family of the order Neuroptera that includes spongeflies