Embioptera (Web-Spinners)

Embiopterans are rarely encountered unless males are attracted to lights during the flight period.  The adult and larval webspinners produce silk from their enlarged front legs. They use the silk to line tunnels and chambers under ground or stones.  Colonies of females live in the nests.  Only males have wings,and they are only developed in their last moult.  The females guard their eggs, and some species feed their young.

Male
Late May 2011
Hobart/nipaluna

       

Either a female or an apterous male found stranded in an outdoor dog food bowl,
Late May 2020
Hobart/nipaluna
   

The same individual after walking off the background tissue!
    

Late May 2012
Hobart/nipaluna
       
Late August 2013
Hobart/nipaluna
Late May 2022
Hobart

Trapped in condensation on a bathroom window.
IMG 3512  IMG 3517  IMG 3514  IMG 3518  IMG 3513

References

Wikipedia 2012, ‘Embioptera’, wiki article, 17/5, accessed 20 May 2012, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embioptera>.

Zborowski, P & Storey, R 2010, A Field Guide to Insects In Australia, 3rd edn, Reed New Holland, Australia.