Pied lacewing (Porismus strigatus)

Appearance

Body length 35mm
These lacewings have the steel blue coloured wings with white patterns.
The abdomen is brown and totally covered by its wings at rest.
The head is orange in colour, with black eyes and black antenna in filiform.
All legs are black to dark brown.

Pied Lacewing SA 2017 Ports us strigatus is a strikingly marked species of Osmyloid Lacewing.
Osmylidae which is native to Australia were it typically occurs in south eastern portions of the continent.
Like other members of its family Porismus strigatus is likely a predator, which feeds mainly on small invertebrates, but will occasionally take pollen as well.
The carnivores larvae rests during the day under tree bark and will hunt by night for insects like caterpillars and aphids. April 2017,Australia,Australian,Eamw lacewings,Geotagged,Mount Billy Conservation Park South Australia,Osmylidae,Pied Lacewing,Pied lacewing,Porismus strigatus

Naming

Synonym:
Osmylus strigatus Burmeister, 1839

Pied lacewing (Porismus strigatus) Three metres up the trunk of a large E. viminalis there were approximately 6 individuals.
Each about 35mm long with glossy black coloured wings with white patterns and some metallic highlights at certain angles.
Abdomen is completely covered by the wings.
The head is orange with black eyes and fine black antennae.
Legs black to dark brown. Long 'neck'. Wings in tall narrow tent shape.
In a local sports/nature reserve. Australia,Fall,Geotagged,Neuroptera,Pied lacewing,Porismus strigatus,lacewing

Distribution

South eastern states of Australia.

Behavior

Often found in groups of up to a dozen.
Also often found in pairs, and closely facing each other sometimes remaining like that for hours.

Habitat

Open eucalyptus woodlands.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_lacewings/Osmylidae.htm
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Porismus+strigatus#
http://eol.org/pages/4130921/overview

Taxonomy
Kingdom	Animalia
Division	Arthropoda
Class	Insecta
Order	Neuroptera
Family	Osmylidae
Genus	Porismus
Species	Porismus strigatus

Photographed in
Australia