Originally posted by SSGGeezer If it is not a bug, what is a lacewing? Very nice shot and I love the lens effect on the water droplet to the right.
In the formal scientific use of "bug," lacewings are not considered bugs. "Insects" is the entire hexapodous terrestrial arthropod group, while "bug" applies to a particular type of insect. In scientific use "insect" and "bug" are not equivalent, interchangeable names or words that mean exactly the same thing.
Lacewings belong in the insect group called Neuroptera = "nerve wing" insects.
True bugs compose the group called Heteroptera* = "other wing"
*There has been some instability or shuffling here. When I first learned about insects, the "true bugs" were called Hemiptera = "half wing" or "partial wing." Hemiptera is now a higher category that includes Heteroptera and Homoptera (=cicadas, leafhoppers and others)
*Heteroptera include a variety of very interesting insects: leaf bugs, shield bugs, bed bugs, assassin bugs, water scorpions, back swimmers, water striders, and others.