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Neuroleon chloranthe

Posted on by Ryan Tippett

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

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Neuroleon chloranthe

(Banks, 1911)

Identification

Size: Small

Neuroleon chloranthe is characterised by its distinctive pale-spotted abdomen pattern. The wing markings are also a useful aid to identification.

Males have more elongate abdomens than the females.

This species is is similar to Neuroleon guttatus but lacks the obvious black spots in the forewings.

Neuroleon chloranthe – Bushmanskloof, Western Cape
Photo by Zenobia van Dyk
Neuroleon chloranthe – Danielskuil, Northern Cape
Photo by Aletta Liebenberg
Neuroleon chloranthe – Heidelberg, Gauteng
Photo by Johan Heyns

Habitat

Neuroleon chloranthe occupies a range of habitat types including savanna, fynbos and Karoo scrub.

Behaviour

Adults are readily attracted to light.

The larvae live concealed on dusty rock ledges in small caves and under rock overhangs. They are sit and wait hunters and do not actively seek out their prey.

Adults are most active during the warmer months from September to April but may be active all year in hotter areas.

Neuroleon chloranthe – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Status and Distribution

Neuroleon chloranthe is a fairly common and widespread species, occurring over most of South Africa and all neighbouring countries.

Distribution of Neuroleon chloranthe. Taken from the LacewingMAP database, December 2022.

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Nemoleontinae Tribe: Nemoleontini (Pit-trapping Antlions) Genus: Neuroleon Species: chloranthe

Neuroleon chloranthe – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Further Resources

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

Neuroleon chloranthe – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Aletta Liebenberg, Johan Heyns 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. Neuroleon chloranthe. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/12/16/neuroleon-chloranthe/

Neuroleon chloranthe – Bushmanskloof, Western Cape
Photo by Zenobia van Dyk
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!