View the above photo record (by Rick Nuttall) in LacewingMAP here.
Lachlathetes moestus
(Hagen, 1953)
Identification
Size: Very Large (Wingspan 160mm)
Lachlathetes moestus is one of southern Africa’s most spectacular antlions. The adults have long, broad-tipped wings. The thorax is grey and very hairy, paler above than along the sides. The abdomen is dark grey. The legs are a dull to bright reddish-pink colouration. It is one of the largest species of antlions known anywhere in the world.
Larvae: The larvae are large and black.
Photo by Bart Wursten
Photo by Riaan Robbeson
Habitat
Lachlathetes moestus is a tropical savanna species that favours hot, humid regions. Adults can often found around the edges of wetlands where they rest up in tall, rank grass.
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Behaviour
Adults are nocturnal and spend the day resting among tall grass. They are frequently attracted to light.
Adults are on the wing very late in Summer from March to April.
The larvae are very large and are voracious predators. Larvae inhabit deep sand/soil. They ambush their prey and do not construct pit-fall traps.
Photo by David Kennedy
Status and Distribution
Lachlathetes moestus is fairly common and widespread in the northern provinces of South Africa, including KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. This species occurs widely across south-east Africa including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Swaziland and Zambia.
Taxonomy:
Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Palparinae Tribe: Palparini Genus: Lachlathetes Species: moestus
Photo by Rick Nuttall
Further Resources
Virtual Museum (LacewingMAP > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name)
Acknowledgements:
The use of photographs by Bart Wursten, David Kennedy, Riaan Robbeson and Rick Nuttall is acknowledged. This species text has benefited enormously from comments made by Mervyn Mansell on records he has identified in LacewingMAP. We acknowledge his important contribution.
Recommended citation format for this species text:
Tippett RM 2022. Lachlathetes moestus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/08/lachlathetes-moestus/
