Palpares speciosus

View the above photo record (by Daryl de Beer) in LacewingMAP here.

Palpares speciosus

Linnaeus, 1758

Identification

Size: Large (Wingspan up to 112mm)

P. speciosus is an overall yellow with dense black markings. The thorax is yellow and black and partially covered in thick grey setae. The abdomen is dark yellow with variable, broad black lines along the sides.

The fore wings show conspicuous yellow veining with black spotting. There are two distinctive lead-grey blotches near the middle of each fore wing. The hind wings are whiteish with four evenly spaced black patches and scattered smaller black spots.

Superficially resembles Palpares caffer. That species differs in showing three irregularly spaced black patches on the hindwing.

Larvae: The larvae are large and black.

*Palpares speciosus* – Karoo-Gariep Nature Reserve, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

*Palpares speciosus* – Leeupoort, Northern Cape
Photo by Kathy Majoor

Habitat

Palpares speciosus inhabits the fynbos and Karoo biomes, especially in areas with tall grass.

Behaviour

Adults are often found at rest in long grass. They flush and fly off easily but will quickly settle again. Palpares speciosus is often attracted to lights.

Adults are active during the spring and summer months. The winged adults of P. speciosus are recorded from August to May but most records come from November to April.

The larvae live freely in soil among grass tussocks. They are voracious predators feeding mainly on other arthropods. The larvae are seldom encountered.

Status and Distribution

Palpares speciosus is a fairly common South African endemic. It is widespread in the Western Cape and parts of the Northern and Eastern Cape Provinces. Ranges as far north and east as Hanover and Grahamstown. It is replaced to the north by its sister-species, Palpares caffer.

Distribution of *Palpares speciosus*. Taken from the LacewingMAP database, July 2022.

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Palparinae Tribe: Palparini Genus: Palpares Species: speciosus

*Palpares speciosus* – Simons Town, Western Cape
Photo by Andrew Hodgson

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Christeen Grant, Geoff Prosser, Len de Beer, Marita Beneke, Stephen Ball and Walter Neser 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 speciosus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/09/palpares-speciosus/