The snakeflies are a small order of winged, predacious insects. They have a characteristic build, with an elongated head and a long, narrow neck formed by the first thoracic segment.

Snakeflies live mainly in trees and bushes, where they use the long neck and head to strike snake-like at smaller prey. The larvae resemble wingless versions of the imagines, and live mostly under bark where they too feed on smaller animals. The snakeflies are closely related to the neuropterans, and their transparent wings with numerous veins bear close resemblance to the neuropteran wing.