Archive

Furgella damarinus

Posted on by Ryan Tippett

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

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Furgella damarinus

(Péringuey, 1910)

Identification

Size: Small

The thorax is grey and pale yellowish with a broad black dorsal line running from the head to the start of the abdomen. The abdomen is mostly plain grey with variable yellowish-pink markings along the sides.

The wings are clear and thinly marked with scattered brown markings. The most distinctive of which are wedge shaped and found near the tips of the hind wings.

Larvae: The larvae are pink and resemble those of the genus Cueta.

Furgella damarinus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Furgella damarinus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Habitat

Furgella damarinus inhabits arid shrublands of the Nama Karoo as well as Kalahari scrub and savanna. It is usually found on sandy soils.

Habitat – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Behaviour

Adults are nocturnal and they are sometimes attracted to lights. Nothing else is known about the biology of this species.

Adults are active during summer and have been recorded from November to March.

The larvae do not construct pits but instead live freely in loose sand.

Furgella damarinus – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape
Photo by P. Nieuwoudt

Status and Distribution

Furgella damarinus is uncommon and is endemic to South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. In South Africa, it is known only from the Northern Cape Province. It is fairly widespread in the Kalahari ecosystem.

Distribution of Furgella damarinus. Taken from the LacewingMAP database, November 2022.

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Myrmeleontinae Tribe: Myrmecaelurini Genus: Furgella  Species: damarinus

Furgella damarinus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by P. Nieuwoudt 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. Furgella damarinus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/12/12/furgella-damarinus/

Furgella damarinus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
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!