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Palparellus dubiosus

Posted on by Ryan Tippett

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

Palparellus dubiosus

(Peringuey, 1910)

Identification

Size: Large (Wingspan around 100mm)

It could be confused with Palpares speciosus, but the characteristic thoracic patterns and male terminalia easily distinguish it from P. speciosus and P. caffer.

Larvae: The larvae are unknown.

Palparellus dubiosus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Palparellus dubiosus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Habitat

P. elegantulus inhabits the open, arid shrublands of the Nama Karoo in flat or hilly terrain.

Habitat – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Behaviour

Palparellus dubiosus is regularly attracted to lights. Adults are nocturnal and often rest in a hanging position among the protective branches of Karoo bushes.

Adults are active during late summer and have been recorded from January to April.

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Palparellus dubiosus – Near Hanover, Northern Cape
Photo by Rick Nuttall

Status and Distribution

This species is confined to South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. In South Africa, it occurs in the drier western regions of the country. Palparellus dubiosus seems to be common and widespread in the Karoo regions of South Africa.

Distribution of Palparellus dubiosus. Taken from the LacewingMAP database, July 2022.

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Palparinae Tribe: Palparini Genus: Palparellus Species: dubiosus

Palparellus dubiosus – Near Hanover, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by 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. Palparellus dubiosus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/30/palparellus-dubiosus/

Palparellus dubiosus – 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!