Ascalaphinae
Ascalaphinae is the type subfamily of the neuropteran owlfly family. Most species are found in the tropics. Their characteristic apomorphy, shared with the Ululodinae, is the ridge which divides each of their large compound eyes; both groups are thus sometimes known as split-eyed owlflies.
Like the other owlflies, they are insectivores. Imagines are cumbersome fliers and lack the strong mouthparts of dragonflies or other decidedly predatory insects, they are restricted to small and defenseless prey. The larvae on the other hand resemble antlions in appearance and habits and are voracious ambush predators, able to tackle prey like ants that will not be eaten without a struggle.
The ascalaphine split-eyed owlflies form one of the two main lineages of living Ascalaphidae, the other being the Haplogleniinae which have unsplit eyes like their ancestors. The first fossil record of the Ascalaphinae dates to the Miocene, and the subfamily thus probably evolved in the latter half or towards the end of the Paleogene.
Genera
Abascalaphus Tjeder & Hansson, 1992Acheron (insect) Lefèbvre 1842Acmonotus McLachlan, 1871Agadirius Badano & Pantaleoni, 2012Agrionosoma van der Weele, 1909Angolania Koçak & Kemal, 2008Angustacsa New, 1984Ascalaphodes McLachlan, 1871Ascalaphus Fabricius, 1775Ascalohybris Sziráki, 1998Ascapseudoptynx Abrahám & Mészáros, 2006Aspoeckiella Hölzel 2004Botjederinus Abrahám, 2011Brevibarbis Tjeder & Hansson, 1992Bubomyiella Tjeder & Hansson, 1992Bubopsis McLachlan 1898Cirrops Tjeder 1980Deleproctophylla Lefèbvrem 1842Dentalacsa New, 1984Dicolpus Gerstaecker, 1885Disparomitus van der Weele, 1909Dixonotus Kimmins, 1950Dorsomitus Michel & Tjeder, 2018Encyoposis McLachlan 1871Encyopsidius Navás 1912Eremoides Tjeder 1992Farakosius Michel 1998Fillus Navás 1919Forcepacsa New 1984Glyptobasis McLachlan 1871Helcopteryx McLachlan 1871Horischema Mészáros & Abrahám, 2003Kimulodes Tjeder & Hansson 1992Libelloides Schäffer 1763Lobalacsa New 1984Mabiza Tjeder & Hansson 1992Maezous Ábrahám 2008Mansellacsa Hölzel 2004Megacmonotus New 1984Nagacta Navás 1914Nanomitus Navás 1912Nephelasca Navás 1914Nephoneura McLachlan 1871Nousera Navás 1923Ogcogaster Westwood 1847Parascalaphus Martynova 1926Parasuphalomitus New 1984Perissoschema Mészáros & Abrahám 2003Phalascusa Kolbe 1897Pictacsa New 1984Pilacmonotus New 1984Proctarrelabis Lefèbvre 1842Protacheron Weele 1909Protidricerus Weele 1909Protobubopsis van der Weele 1909Pseudencyoposis van der Weele, 1909Pseudodisparomitus New 1984Pseudohybris van der Weele 1909Pseudoproctarrelabris van der Weele 1909Puer (insect) Lefèbvre 1842Siphlocerus McLachlan 1871Stephanolasca van der Weele 1909Strixomyia Tjeder 1989Stylascalaphus Sziráki 1998Suhpalacsa Lefèbvre, 1842Suphalomitus van der Weele 1909Tytomyia Tjeder & Hansson 1992Ululomyia Tjeder 1992Umbracsa New 1984Venacsa New 1984