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Family Sialidae
Length 14mm
Superficially lacewing-like but has broad, brown wings with clearly defined black veins forming a relatively simple network. Wings held in tent-like appearance when at rest. This species fllies poorly hence it remains static , often found resting on waterside vegetation It makes brief flights mainly at Dusk .May-June.
Aquatic larva is predatory; its brown, tapering abdomen is fringed with gills. The alder-fly is black with greyish-brown wings with black veins. It is very common and can be found near ponds and sluggish streams with silted bottoms and an abundance of weed or plant detritus. The Alder Fly despite its name, is not associated with alder trees, other than being found on foliage beside water, which is where alder is usually found. Eggs are laid in batches of 200 or more eggs floating on a dense mat on vegetation near water or other objects at the water's edge.
The larvae are aquatic, living amongst mud and detritus and preying on smaller insects. Adults can be seen resting often in large numbers on emergent spring vegetation around the pond, mainly in May and June,
Life Cycle
The larvae live in silt at the bottom of ponds and are carnivorous. They spend about two years in the aquatic state at the bottom of rivers and lakes April - AugustPrey
Water invertebrates
IMAGES 2697 (C) 2008 COLIN DUKE
IMAGE 2693 (C) 2008 COLIN DUKE
IMAGES 2699 (C) 2008 COLIN DUKE
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