snakefly
nounEtymology From snake + fly.
1
Any insect of the order Raphidioptera.
- Although sexual behavior is not well studied in the order, observations exist for members of both snakefly families.1997, Charles S. Henry, “11: Modern mating systems in archaic Holometabola: sexuality in neuropterid insects”, in Jae C. Choe, Bernard J. Crespi, editors, The Evolution of Mating Systems in Insects and Arachnids, page 196:
- Adult snakeflies stalk their prey in a manner similar to snakes. When an insect comes within reach, the snakefly will strike, catching the victim with its jaws.2009, David Hugh Kattes, Insects of Texas: a Practical Guide, page 109:
1 more example
- The order snakeflies (Raphidioptera) consists predominantly of saproxylic predators (Aspöck, 2002). Snakeflies have an almost worldwide distribution, mostly occurring in temperate regions and in mountainous areas closer to the equator.2012, Jogeir N. Stokland, Juha Siitonen, Bengt Gunnar Jonsson, Biodiversity in Dead Wood, page 239: