Osmylidae (Giant Lacewings) Identification

There is only one species of the family Osmylidae present in the British Isles: Osmylus fulvicephalus. This species is very distinctive, it is a large lacewing with a distinctive pattern on the wings and a red head with ocelli – dark spots above the antennae (see image below).

Osmylus fulvicephalus an easily identified Lacewing. Image: O. Fogh Nielsen (CC BY-4.0)