Editing Sponge (section)

=== Predation ===
{{further|Spongivore}}

[[File:Generalised food web for sponge reefs.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|Generalised food web for sponge reefs<ref name= Archer2020>{{cite journal |last1=Archer |first1=Stephanie K. |last2=Kahn |first2=Amanda S. |last3=Thiess |first3=Mary |last4=Law |first4=Lauren |last5=Leys |first5=Sally P. |last6=Johannessen |first6=Sophia C. |last7=Layman |first7=Craig A. |last8=Burke |first8=Lily |last9=Dunham |first9=Anya |title=Foundation Species Abundance Influences Food Web Topology on Glass Sponge Reefs |journal=Frontiers in Marine Science |publisher=Frontiers Media SA |volume=7 |date=24 September 2020 |issn=2296-7745 |doi=10.3389/fmars.2020.549478|doi-access=free |bibcode=2020FrMaS...749478A }} [[File:CC-BY icon.svg|50px]] Material was copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016050101/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |date=2017-10-16 }}.</ref>]]

Spongeflies, also known as spongillaflies ([[Neuroptera]], [[Sisyridae]]), are specialist predators of freshwater sponges. The female lays her eggs on vegetation overhanging water. The larvae hatch and drop into the water where they seek out sponges to feed on. They use their elongated mouthparts to pierce the sponge and suck the fluids within. The larvae of some species cling to the surface of the sponge while others take refuge in the sponge's internal cavities. The fully grown larvae leave the water and spin a cocoon in which to pupate.<ref>{{cite book |last=Piper |first=Ross |author-link1=Ross Piper |year=2007 |title=Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals |publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-0-313-33922-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/extraordinaryani0000pipe |page=148}}</ref>