Archive

Nannoleon michaelseni

Posted on by Ryan Tippett

View the above photo record (by Alan Manson) in LacewingMAP here.

Nannoleon michaelseni

Esben-Petersen, 1928

Identification

Size: Small (Wingspan around 35mm)

It is characterized by the broad clear wings and their distinctive, long clavate antennae.

Larvae: Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Nannoleon michaelseni – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Nannoleon michaelseni – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Habitat

Nannoleon michaelseni inhabits the open, arid shrublands of the Nama Karoo in flat or hilly terrain. It is also known from dry savanna woodlands of Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

Habitat – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Behaviour

Adults are nocturnal and they are regularly attracted to lights. Nothing else is known about the biology of this species.

Adults are active during late summer and have been recorded from December to April,

Nannoleon michaelseni – Bushmanskloof, Western Cape
Photo by Zenobia van Dyk

Status and Distribution

This species is widespread in South Africa and Namibia, and is fairly common in the drier western parts of the sub-region.

Distribution of Nannoleon michaelseni. Taken from the LacewingMAP database, July 2022.

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Dendroleontinae Tribe: Dendroleontini Genus: Nannoleon Species: michaelseni

Nannoleon michaelseni – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Further Resources

Virtual Museum (LacewingMAP > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name)

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Alan Manson and Zenobia van Dyk 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. Nannoleon michaelseni. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/08/nannoleon-michaelseni/

Nannoleon michaelseni – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Ryan Tippett
Ryan Tippett
Ryan is an enthusiastic contributor to Citizen Science and has added many important and interesting records of fauna and flora. He has been a member of the Virtual Museum since 2014 and has currently submitted over 12,000 records. He is on the expert identification panel for the OdonataMAP project. Ryan is a well-qualified and experienced Field Guide, and Guide Training Instructor. He has spent the last 18 years in the guiding and tourism industries. Ryan loves imparting his passion and knowledge onto others, and it is this that drew him into guide training in particular. Something that he finds incredibly rewarding is seeing how people he's had the privilege of teaching have developed and gone on to greater things. His interests are diverse and include Dragonflies, Birding, Arachnids, Amphibians, wild flowers and succulents, free diving and experiencing big game on foot. With this range of interests, there is always likely be something special just around the corner!