What kinds of prey do neuropteran larvae eat?

Most neuropteran larvae are carnivorous and predaceous, feeding on a wide variety of small organisms. Their diet typically includes:12

• Insects and insect eggs: They consume various insect larvae, ants, and homopterans (such as aphids and scale insects).32
• Other small invertebrates: They also prey upon mites, thysanopterans (thrips), and psocopterans.2

Feeding strategies vary by species. For instance, larvae of the family Sisyridae are an exception to this general predatory behavior, as they are parasitic on freshwater sponges. Many other neuropteran larvae, such as antlions, use specialized techniques like digging funnel-shaped pits in sand to trap ants and other small insects that wander into them.1245

Regardless of the specific prey, these larvae typically use their mandibles to pierce the victim and suck out its internal contents, leaving behind only a hollow skin. Because many adult neuropterans feed little or not at all, the larval stage is critical for consuming the nutrients necessary to sustain the insect through its development and adulthood.1354