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Crambomorphus karrooanus

Posted on by Ryan Tippett

View the above photo record (by Ryan Tippett) in LacewingMAP here.

Crambomorphus karrooanus

(Péringuey, 1910)

Identification

Size: Large (Wingspan 110mm)

This is one of South Africa’s most attractive antlions.

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

This species was formerly known as Palpares karrooanus, but has since been transferred to the genus Crambomorphus.

Crambomorphus karrooanus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Crambomorphus karrooanus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Habitat

Crambomorphus karrooanus Inhabits the open, arid shrublands of the Karoo. A species of the Nama-Karoo biome.

Habitat – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Behaviour

Crambomorphus karrooanus – Near Merriman, Northern Cape
Photo by Zenobia van Dyk

Adults are nocturnal and spend the day resting among tall grass. They are occasionally attracted to light.

Adults are on the wing from December to March.

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Crambomorphus karrooanus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Status and Distribution

This species is uncommon and is seldom encountered. C. karrooanus is restricted to the Northern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. It is also found in southern Namibia and Botswana.

Distribution of Crambomorphus karrooanus. Taken from the LacewingMAP database, July 2022.

Taxonomy:

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Palparinae Tribe: Palparini Genus: Crambomorphus Species:  karrooanus

Crambomorphus karrooanus – Aggeneys, Northern Cape
Photo by Luke Kemp

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Luke Kemp 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. Crambomorphus karrooanus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/25/crambomorphus-karrooanus/

Crambomorphus karrooanus – Aggeneys, Northern Cape
Photo by Luke Kemp
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!