#Owlflies like this owly sulphur are beauties although they are vicious predators of other flying #insects. They inhabit dry areas with high grass or rocky steppe with high abundance of other insects. They are locally common in #Valais, #Switzerland.

#bugsky #invertebrates #Libelloides #coccajus

A photo of the side of the front half of an owlfly, a large insect related to lacewings. This example has a very odd eye streucture. The metallic green iridescent eye looks as if it has split down the middle by a ridge giving it a "Slit-eyed" appearance

Another view of the face of the owlfly showing both eyes, the antennae, the wing roots, and the thick abdomen behind. There is hair-like structures under the eyes, obscuring the mouthparts that almost give the insect a wizened fantastical look

#Neuroptera, #lacewings, #mantidflies, #owlflies and allies, have some amazing looking eyes. This wild looking creature is one, a Split-eyed Owlfly ( #Ululodes floridanus ) that visited me a few years back.😁

#Owlflies are derived #antlions

#phylogeny #Myrmeleontidae

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