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Nesoleon boschimanus

Posted on by Ryan Tippett

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

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Nesoleon boschimanus

(Péringuey, 1910)

Identification

Size: Small (Wingspan around 35mm)

A beautiful antlion with rather variable wing markings.

Larvae are unknown.

Nesoleon boschimanus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Nesoleon boschimanus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Habitat

Nesoleon boschimanus 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

Not much is known about this species. Adults are nocturnal and they are regularly attracted to lights.

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

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

Nesoleon boschimanus– Bushmanskloof, Western Cape
Photo by Zenobia van Dyk

Status and Distribution

Nesoleon boschimanus is fairly common and widespread in Southern Africa. In South Africa it is most numerous in the dry west. Its range extends into Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.

Distribution of Nesoleon boschimanus. Taken from the LacewingMAP database, November 2022.

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Myrmeleontinae Tribe: Nesoleontini Genus: Nesoleon Species: boschimanus

Nesoleon boschimanus – Bushmanskloof, Western Cape
Photo by Zenobia van Dyk

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. Nesoleon boschimanus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/11/24/nesoleon-boschimanus/

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!