Snakeflies

Snakeflies are a small order of insects, comprising the family Raphidiidae. They are characterized by an elongated prothorax, which forms a distinct neck. This neck allows the head to be held far forward, giving the insect a snake-like appearance, hence their common name. Snakeflies are found in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in Europe and Asia.

Adult snakeflies possess two pairs of long, narrow, membranous wings, which are often heavily veined. Their bodies are typically slender and elongated. The females of most species have a prominent, needle-like ovipositor at the end of their abdomen, used for laying eggs in crevices of bark or dead wood. The larvae are predatory, living within decaying wood, bark crevices, or leaf litter. They are elongate and flattened, with powerful mandibles, and feed on other small invertebrates. Snakefly larvae are slow-moving but effective hunters.

The life cycle of a snakefly can be lengthy, often taking several years to complete. They undergo complete metamorphosis, with egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. The pupal stage typically occurs within a cell constructed by the larva in the wood or soil. Snakeflies are not considered pests; in fact, their predatory larvae can play a beneficial role in controlling populations of wood-boring insects. Their distinctive appearance and somewhat reclusive habits make them a fascinating, though not widely encountered, group of insects.