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Neuropterans: Lacewings, Antlions, and Owlfliespossible basket-tail dragonfly??
Sat, May 30, 2009 at 7:29 PM
This bug has been hanging out on my friend’s screen door for two days now, it moves around the screen so we know it’s not dead but it hasn’t flown away either. It’s kind of cute but in a creepy way 
My friend searched online and thinks it might be a basket-tail dragonfly
Shara
Kerrville, Texas
Owlfly
Hi Shara,
This is an Owlfly in the family Ascalaphidae. It is related to Antlions and Lacewings together in the order Neuroptera. Despite resembling a Dragonfly, it is not closely related. We suspect your specimen is the species Ascaloptynx appendiculata which is found in the south west to Arizona according to BugGuide. Adults and larvae are both predatory, and adults are nocturnal. Many nocturnal insects are attracted to lights, and that would explain its presence on the screen door.
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