Palparellus pulchellus

View the above photo record (by Zenobia van Dyk) in LacewingMAP here.

Palparellus pulchellus

(Esben-Petersen, 1922)

Identification

Size: Medium-Large

This is a beautiful species hence the name “pulchellus”, meaning beautiful.

Larvae: The larvae are unknown.

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

Habitat

P. elegantulus inhabits the open, arid shrublands of the Nama Karoo, often on sandy, red soils.

Habitat – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Behaviour

Palparellus pulchellus is sometimes attracted to lights. Adults are nocturnal and often rest in a hanging position among the protective branches of Karoo bushes. They are highly cryptic when at rest and blend specifically with the karroid-type vegetation of the Nama Karoo.

Adults are active during late summer and have been recorded from October to March.

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Palparellus pulchellus Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Status and Distribution

Palparellus pulchellus is uncommon and not often encountered. This species is confined to South Africa and is a Karoo endemic. It is known mostly from the Northern Cape of South Africa, with one record from the Western Cape.

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

Taxonomy

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

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

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

Palparellus pulchellus 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!