Owlfly

Not a fly, not an owl

Owlflies are members of the order Neuroptera — the same order as lacewings and ant lions — not flies (Diptera). They’re called “owl-flies” because of their massive compound eyes, which are divided into upper and lower halves like an owl’s prominent eyes. Each half-eye specializes: upper half for flying prey overhead, lower half for prey in front and below.

The clubbed antennae and large eyes give the owlfly a distinctive face that’s striking even at a glance — much different from a true dragonfly, which has shorter antennae and unsplit eyes.

Aerial predators

Adult owlflies are agile aerial predators like dragonflies, taking small flying insects (especially mosquitoes and midges) on the wing. They’re most active at dusk — flying low over open ground in fast, maneuverable flight. Their flight is often described as more “fluttery” than a dragonfly’s smooth glide.

Most owlfly species prefer warm, dry, sunny areas — Mediterranean and tropical climates. They’re rare in cool wet regions.

Antlion-relatives in the larval stage

Owlfly larvae look almost exactly like antlion larvae — flattened, with massive curved jaws (like miniature pincers). They don’t dig pits like antlions; instead, they sit motionless on bark, leaves, or rocks waiting to ambush small invertebrates that wander within reach. Their larval stage lasts 1–2 years before they pupate into adults.

The larval similarity reflects their relatedness — owlflies and antlions are close evolutionary cousins.

A neglected family

Owlflies are widespread but rarely seen by casual observers because:

• They fly mostly at dusk when birds and most casual observers go indoors.
• Their habitat is often dry open ground (grasslands, scrubland) rather than the gardens and waterways where most people see insects.
• Daytime resting birds are well-camouflaged and motionless.

Even ornithologists and entomologists familiar with their general region have often never seen one. Online insect identification forums regularly have requests asking what an “owlfly” is — sometimes from people who thought they had photographed a dragonfly with strange eyes.