The morphological diversity of spoon-winged lacewing larvae and the first possible fossils from 99 million-year-old Kachin amber, Myanmar

Antlion-like lacewings (Myrmeleontiformia) have comparably large predatory larvae; most well-known are the larvae of antlions (Myrmeleontidae) and owlflies (Ascalaphidae). Yet, spoon-winged (Nemopterinae, also an ingroup Myrmeleontiformia) less well studied differ in their overall habitus, with a broader head stouter mouthparts. We here review known record lacewing report two new fossil preserved 99 million-year-old Kachin amber from Myanmar that some characteristics larvae. quantitatively compare morphological aspects all these those other myrmeleontiformian Our analyses suggest one larva may indeed be closely related to extant lacewings, but retains plesiomorphies shared Crocinae, sister group Nemopterinae. The shows many unique features, similarities larvae, hence might highly specialised early representative lineage. These first potential Nemopterinae record. Therefore, they important indicators for structure diversification lacewings.