Archive

Neuroleon guttatus

Posted on by Ryan Tippett

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

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Neuroleon guttatus

(Navas, 1914)

Identification

Size: Small

Neuroleon guttatus has a distinctive abdomen pattern, a grey thorax and a characteristic arrangement of black dots in the forewings.

N. guttatus is similar to Neuroleon chloranthe, however, N. chloranthe lacks the diagnostic spots in the forewings.

Neuroleon guttatus – Near Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Neuroleon guttatus – Near Kachikau, Botswana
Photo by Craig Peter

Habitat

Neuroleon guttatus inhabits a variety of habitat types, ranging from dry Karoo scrub to humid savanna woodlands.

Behaviour

It is often attracted to lights, and most collected specimens have been taken this way.

Adults are most active during the summer months from…

The larvae live concealed in dust in rock crevices and are “sit and wait predators”, which do not actively pursue their prey.

Neuroleon guttatus – Kimberley, Northern Cape
Photo by Nellie Spangenberg

Status and Distribution

Neuroleon guttatus is uncommon but widespread in the northern parts of South Africa and extends to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia and Madagascar.

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

Taxonomy

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

Neuroleon guttatus – 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, Craig Peter and Nellie Spangenberg 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 guttatus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/12/15/neuroleon-guttatus/

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!