Eremoides bicristatus

View the above photo record (by Stephen Ball) in LacewingMAP here.

Ascalaphidae (Owlflies)

Eremoides bicristatus

(Banks, 1924)

Identification

Size: Medium sized (Wingspan 60mm)

Males have very characteristic “epaulets or flanges” on the thorax – hence the name “bicristatus”, each ending in a small hook. The flanges are absent in females.

The body is predominantly yellow with some brown lines running lengthwise down the abdomen. The wings are clear with a conspicuous brown leading edge.

As with other owlflies, they possess long, clubbed antennae.

The larvae of this species are unknown.

*Eremoides bicristatus* (Male) – Near Beestekraal, North West Province
Photo by Evert Kleynhans

Habitat

Eremoides bicristatus is a species of grasslands and grassy areas in woodland and savanna. It is often found in damp places near wetlands.

Behaviour

Adults are frequently flushed from long grass. They fly rapidly but will soon settle again on a grass stem. They hawk smaller flying insects at dusk.

Eremoides bicristatus is sometimes attracted to light. Adults are recorded during Summer from September to March.

The larvae, like others in the genus, are thought to live on vegetation where they are ambush predators of other insects.

*Eremoides bicristatus* (Female) – Nylsvlei Nature Reserve, Limpopo
Photo by Jacobus Labuschagne

Status and Distribution

Eremoides bicristatus is fairly common and widespread in the northern parts of South Africa and is also known from Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Distribution of *Eremoides bicristatus*. Taken from the LacewingMAP database, January 2023.

Taxonomy:

Order: Neuroptera Family: Ascalaphidae Subfamily: Ascalaphinae Tribe: Ascalaphini Genus: Eremoides Species: bicristatus

*Eremoides bicristatus* (Female) – Danielskuil, Northern Cape
Photo by Aletta Liebenberg

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Aletta Liebenberg, Evert Kleynhans, Jacobus Labuschagne and Stephen Ball 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. Eremoides bicristatus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2023/01/09/eremoides-bicristatus/