How are snakeflies adapted to life on trees?

Snakeflies (order Raphidiodea) are well-adapted to life on trees primarily during their larval stage. These active, carnivorous larvae are specifically adapted to live and hunt beneath loose tree bark.1

While the adult snakefly is recognized by its elongated prothorax—which forms a slender, snake-like neck—and its net-veined wings, the tree-dwelling habit is a defining characteristic of their development. By residing under bark, the larvae are positioned to act as natural predators, where they provide a benefit to humans by destroying the larvae and pupae of other insects.1

Although snakeflies are often grouped with neuropterans in broader classification schemes, they are distinct from true lacewings in their physical structure and larval habits. Unlike some other related groups that inhabit freshwater environments, snakeflies are terrestrial and are found across the Northern Hemisphere.23