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

Centroclisis vitanda 

Navás, 1912

Identification

Size: Medium sized (Wingspan around 90mm)

It is characterized by the long male ectoprocts. The adults are hairy and have pale grey and yellow-brown bodies.

Larvae: Nothing is known about the larvae of this species, although they are likely to closely resemble those of other Centroclisis spp.

Habitat

Centroclisis vitanda inhabits the Nama-Karoo. Most records come from the higher-lying central and upper karoo.

Behaviour

It normally rests well camouflaged on bark, and is readily attracted to light. Adults are on the wing during late Summer from December to March.

The large, dark larvae are voracious predators, which inhabit deep sand. They come to the surface at night to lie in wait for prey. They ambush their prey and do not construct pit-fall traps.

Status and Distribution

Centroclis is vitanda is a South African endemic, known mainly from the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Free State provinces. This species is seldom encountered and is generally scarce but may be fairly common in suitable habitat.

Taxonomy:

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae  Genus: Centroclisis Species: vitanda

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Alan Manson 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. Centroclisis vitanda. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/09/20/centroclisis-vitanda/

View the above photo record (by Daniel Engelbrecht) in LacewingMAP here.

Palparellus festivus

(Esben-Petersen, 1922)

Identification

Size: Medium-Large

This is a …….. species hence the name “festivus”, meaning ………

Larvae: The larvae are unknown.

Habitat

P. festivus inhabits savanna woodlands in hot, low-lying areas.

Behaviour

Palparellus festivus is sometimes attracted to lights. Adults are nocturnal and often rest in a hanging position amidst long grass.

Adults are active during the summer months and have been recorded from October to February.

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Status and Distribution

Palparellus festivus is fairly common but is not often encountered. It is known mostly from Limpopo, Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal, with one record from Gauteng..

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Palparinae Tribe: Palparini Genus: Palparellus Species: festivus

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs byAshwell Glasson, Daniel Engelbrecht and Christopher Willis 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. Palparellus festivus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/09/15/palparellus-festivus/

View the above photo record (by Ingmar Van der Brugge) in LacewingMAP here.

Palparellus nyassanus

(Navás, 1911)

Identification

Size: Medium-Large

A very striking and attractive species.

Larvae: The larvae are unknown.

Habitat

Palparellus nyassanus is a tropical savanna species. Adults inhabit long grass, usually among rocks and boulders.

Behaviour

Palparellus nyassanus is sometimes attracted to lights. Adults are nocturnal and often rest in a hanging position among tall grass.

Adults are active during early to mid-summer and are been recorded from August to January.

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Status and Distribution

Palparellus nyassanus is known from Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West provinces. It extends beyond South Africa into Botswana and northwards to Zimbabwe and Malawi. It is an uncommon species.

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Palparinae Tribe: Palparini Genus: Palparellus Species: nyassanus

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Ingmar Van der Brugge, Marita Beneke and Vaughan Jessnitz 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. Palparellus nyassanus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/30/palparellus-nyassanus/

View the above photo record (by Zenobia van Dyk) in LacewingMAP here.

Palparellus pulchellus

(Esben-Petersen, 1922)

Identification

Size: Medium-Large

This is a beautiful species hence the name “pulchellus”, meaning beautiful.

Larvae: The larvae are unknown.

Habitat

P. elegantulus inhabits the open, arid shrublands of the Nama Karoo, often on sandy, red soils.

Behaviour

Palparellus pulchellus is sometimes attracted to lights. Adults are nocturnal and often rest in a hanging position among the protective branches of Karoo bushes. They are highly cryptic when at rest and blend specifically with the karroid-type vegetation of the Nama Karoo.

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

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Status and Distribution

Palparellus pulchellus is uncommon and not often encountered. This species is confined to South Africa and is a Karoo endemic. It is known mostly from the Northern Cape of South Africa, with one record from the Western Cape.

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Palparinae Tribe: Palparini Genus: Palparellus Species: pulchellus

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Zenobia van Dyk 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. Palparellus pulchellus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/30/palparellus-pulchellus/

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

Palparellus dubiosus

(Peringuey, 1910)

Identification

Size: Large (Wingspan around 100mm)

It could be confused with Palpares speciosus, but the characteristic thoracic patterns and male terminalia easily distinguish it from P. speciosus and P. caffer.

Larvae: The larvae are unknown.

Habitat

P. elegantulus inhabits the open, arid shrublands of the Nama Karoo in flat or hilly terrain.

Behaviour

Palparellus dubiosus is regularly attracted to lights. Adults are nocturnal and often rest in a hanging position among the protective branches of Karoo bushes.

Adults are active during late summer and have been recorded from January to April.

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Status and Distribution

This species is confined to South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. In South Africa, it occurs in the drier western regions of the country. Palparellus dubiosus seems to be common and widespread in the Karoo regions of South Africa.

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Palparinae Tribe: Palparini Genus: Palparellus Species: dubiosus

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Rick Nuttall 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. Palparellus dubiosus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/30/palparellus-dubiosus/

View the above photo record (by Zenobia van Dyk) in LacewingMAP here.

Crambomorphus sinuatus

(Olivier, 1811)

Identification

Size: Large (Wingspan 110mm)

This magnificent antlion is one of South Africa’s most attractive species.

It is characterized by the long, narrow, sinuate and mottled wings.

Larvae: The impressive Larvae of this species are large and black.

Habitat

Crambomorphus sinuatus inhabits the open, arid shrublands of the Karoo and Namaqualand. Occurs in both the Nama-Karoo and Succulent Karoo biomes.

Behaviour

Adults are nocturnal and spend the day resting among tall grass. The folded wings provide it with excellent camouflage while resting up during the day. They are occasionally attracted to light.

Adults are on the wing from December to March.

The larvae live freely in sand, and are voracious predators.

Status and Distribution

Crambomorphus sinuatus is endemic to South Africa and occurs in the Northern and Western Cape provinces. It is uncommon and seldom encountered. 

Taxonomy:

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Palparinae Tribe: Palparini Genus: Crambomorphus Species:  sinuatus

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Zenobia van Dyk 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. Crambomorphus sinuatus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/25/crambomorphus-sinuatus/

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

Crambomorphus karrooanus

(Péringuey, 1910)

Identification

Size: Large (Wingspan 110mm)

This is one of South Africa’s most attractive antlions.

Larvae: Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

This species was formerly known as Palpares karrooanus, but has since been transferred to the genus Crambomorphus.

Habitat

Crambomorphus karrooanus Inhabits the open, arid shrublands of the Karoo. A species of the Nama-Karoo biome.

Behaviour

Adults are nocturnal and spend the day resting among tall grass. They are occasionally attracted to light.

Adults are on the wing from December to March.

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Status and Distribution

This species is uncommon and is seldom encountered. C. karrooanus is restricted to the Northern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. It is also found in southern Namibia and Botswana.

Taxonomy:

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Palparinae Tribe: Palparini Genus: Crambomorphus Species:  karrooanus

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Luke Kemp and Zenobia van Dyk 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. Crambomorphus karrooanus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/25/crambomorphus-karrooanus/

View the above photo record (by John Wilkinson) in LacewingMAP here.

Palpares cataractae

Péringuey, 1910

Identification

Size: Very Large

Palpares cataractae is a very large and robust antlion. 

Originally described from Victoria Falls – hence the name cataractae.

Larvae: The larvae of this species are unknown.

Habitat

Palpares cataractae is a species of hot savanna regions in the north of South Africa.

Behaviour

Palpares cataractae is occasionally attracted to light.

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Adults are recorded during the early summer months and are on the wing from September to January.

Status and Distribution

Palpares cataractae is uncommon in South Africa where it occurrs to the north of the country in the Limpopo province. Ranges further north into Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Taxonomy

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

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Gert Myburgh, John Wilkinson and Ross Hawkins 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 cataractae. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/24/palpares-cataractae/

View the above photo record (by Alan Manson) in LacewingMAP here.

Palpares aemulus

Péringuey, 1911

Identification

Size: Large (Wingspan information unknown)

A striking yellow and black antlion. Palpares aemulus is rather similar to Palpares sobrinus. They can be distinguished from other Palpares by the dense, evenly spaced black speckling on all four wings.

Larvae: The larvae of this species are unknown.

Habitat

Palpares aemulus is a savanna species. The one LacewingMAP record of this species came from tall grass along the Ngwavuma River floodplain.

Behaviour

P. aemulus is likely to be attracted to light.

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

The only LacewingMAP record of this species is from March.

Status and Distribution

Palpares aemulus is rare and has only been recorded from northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Taxonomy

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

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Alan Manson 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 aemulus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/08/22/palpares-aemulus/