Archive

Creoleon africanus

Posted on by Ryan Tippett

View the above photo record (by Johan Heyns) in LacewingMAP here.

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Creoleon africanus

(Rambur, 1842)

Identification

Size: Small to medium (Wingspan around 60mm)

Creoleon africanus has clear and mostly unmarked wings. The thorax and head are greyish with variable yellowish markings especially around the base of the wings. The legs too are yellowish-brown. The abdomen colour ranges from pale to dark grey, sometimes with a hint of brown.

Larvae: Larvae are unknown

Creoleon africanus– Ouberg Private Nature Reserve, Western Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Creoleon mortifer– Near Dinokeng, Limpopo
Photo by Joubert Heymans

Habitat

Creoleon africanus occupies a wide range of habitats from forest and savanna to fynbos and arid Karoo scrub.

Habitat – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Behaviour

Adults are nocturnal and they are regularly attracted to lights. As with other Creoleon species it rests with the wings wrapped around its body.

Adults are on the wing from September to May.

Larvae are unknown, but probably live freely in sand.

Creoleon africanus – Heidelberg, Gauteng
Photo by Johan Heyns

Status and Distribution

Creoleon africanus is widespread across Southern Africa. It is common in both the arid west and the moister east of the sub-region.

Distribution of Creoleon africanus. Taken from the LacewingMAP database, November 2022.

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Nemoleontinae Tribe: Nemoleontini Genus: Creoleon Species: africanus

Creoleon africanus – 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 Johan Heyns, Joubert Heymans 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. Creoleon mortifer. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/12/10/creoleon-africanus/

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!