Order Neuroptera

• Four membranous wings with forewings and hindwings about the same size
• wings usually held rooflike along abdomen
• wings usually with many veins and with numerous crossveins in the costal area
• Antennae many segmented, filiform, moniliform or clubbed
• lateral compound eyes, prominent to large
• ocelli present or absent
• mouthparts chewing.

Similar looking orders:
Megaloptera -- Dobsonflies, fishflies, and alderflies have hind wings with the base larger than that of the front wings; hind wings folded fanwise on top of abdomen.
Raphidioptera -- Snakeflies are somewhat similar to Mantispidae, but front legs similar to other legs and arising from posterior portion of the elongated prothorax. There are about 175 species in two families in the world fauna; 19 species occur in western North America, none in the East.
Odonata -- Damselflies are readily distinguished from similar looking antlions and owlflies by their setaceous antennae and by the shape, venation, and positioning of the wings.

• NeuroWeb - "The Neuropterists' Home Page"
• at NCSU [this account combines the Neuropteroid orders]
• Gordon's Neuroptera Page [this account combines the Neuropteroid orders]