Centroclisis vitanda

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

Centroclisis vitanda 

Navás, 1912

Identification

Size: Medium sized (Wingspan around 90mm)

It is characterized by the long male ectoprocts. The adults are hairy and have pale grey and yellow-brown bodies.

Larvae: Nothing is known about the larvae of this species, although they are likely to closely resemble those of other Centroclisis spp.

Habitat

Centroclisis vitanda inhabits the Nama-Karoo. Most records come from the higher-lying central and upper karoo.

Behaviour

It normally rests well camouflaged on bark, and is readily attracted to light. Adults are on the wing during late Summer from December to March.

The large, dark larvae are voracious predators, which inhabit deep sand. They come to the surface at night to lie in wait for prey. They ambush their prey and do not construct pit-fall traps.

Status and Distribution

Centroclis is vitanda is a South African endemic, known mainly from the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Free State provinces. This species is seldom encountered and is generally scarce but may be fairly common in suitable habitat.

Taxonomy:

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae  Genus: Centroclisis Species: vitanda

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Alan Manson 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. Centroclisis vitanda. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/09/20/centroclisis-vitanda/