View the above photo record (by Niall Perrins) in LacewingMAP here.
Palpares immensus
McLachlan, 1867
Identification
Size: Very Large (Wingspan up to 160mm)
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Palpares immensus is one of the world’s largest antlion species. It has long wings with characteristic black patterning. It has a generally pale appearance with its wings folded at rest. The abdomen is rufous-brown, often with black terminal markings.
Larvae: The larvae are very large and have distinctive reddish, beige and black colouration.
Photo by Alex Dreyer
Habitat
P. immensus inhabits the open, arid shrublands of the Nama Karoo in flat or hilly terrain.
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Behaviour
Adults are nocturnal and often rest in a hanging position among the protective branches of larger bushes. They are regularly attracted to lights.
Adults are active during late summer and have been recorded from January to May.
Photo by Alex Dreyer
The larvae live freely in sand and are ambush hunters. They are voracious predators and feed mainly on other arthropods, but have been known to attack geckos and, in one case a small adder. They are unable to feed on these reptiles and usually die as a result of not being able to extract their jaws from the vertebrate prey.
Photo by Katharina Reddig
Status and Distribution
Fairly common and widespread in the drier western areas of South Africa, being concentrated in the Northern and Western Cape Provinces. It extends into Namibia, Botswana and up into southern Angola.
Taxonomy
Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Palparinae Tribe: Palparini Genus: Palpares Species: immensus
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Further Resources
Virtual Museum (LacewingMAP > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name)
Acknowledgements:
The use of photographs by Alex Dreyer, Katharina Reddig and Niall Perrins 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. Palpares immensus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/07/26/palpares-immensus/
