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.

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.

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.

Taxonomy

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

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/

View the above photo record (by Kate Braun) in LacewingMAP here.

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Macronemurus tinctus 

Kolbe, 1897

Identification

Size: Small-Medium (Wingspan around 62mm)

Superficially similar to Macronemurus perlatus. The head and thorax are yellow with black markings and the abdomen is orange-brown with darker dorsal patterning. The wings are clear with attractive black veining. The males are very characteristic due to their long ectoprocts.

Larvae: The larvae are unknown.

Habitat

Macronemurus tinctus inhabits savanna and grasslands, often in moist areas.

Behaviour

Not much is known about Macronemurus tinctus. The adults are nocturnal and spend the day resting among tall grass or other vegetation. Adults are regularly attracted to lights. 

Adults are on the wing from from December to May.

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Status and Distribution

Macronemurus tinctus is a common and widespread species throughout much of South Africa. It also occurs in all of our neighbouring countries and extends as far north as Tanzania and Kenya.

Taxonomy:

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Nemoleontinae Tribe: Nemoleontini Genus: Macronemurus Species: tinctus

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Kate Braun and N. Thomson 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. Macronemurus tinctus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/12/14/macronemurus-tinctus/

View the above photo record (by Vaughan Jessnitz) in LacewingMAP here.

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Macronemurus perlatus 

(Gerstaecker, 1885)

Identification

Size: Small-Medium (Wingspan around 62mm)

The head and thorax are yellow with black markings and the abdomen is orange-brown with darker dorsal patterning. The wings are clear with attractive black veining. Macronemurus perlatus is sexually dimorphic with males having longer, more slender abdomens and very long filamentous ectoprocts.

This species is very similar to Macronemurus tinctus.

Larvae: The larvae are unknown.

Habitat

Macronemurus perlatus inhabits grasslands and grassy areas in savanna and woodlands.

Behaviour

Nothing much is known about the biology of this species. The adults are nocturnal and spend the day resting among tall grass or other vegetation. Macronemurus perlatus is frequently attracted to lights. 

Adults have been recorded during late Summer from from December to April.

Nothing is known about the larvae of this species.

Status and Distribution

Macronemurus perlatus is a fairly common and widespread species in South Africa. This species is also known from Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Taxonomy:

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Nemoleontinae Tribe: Nemoleontini Genus: Macronemurus Species: perlatus

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Alan Manson, Cornelia Rautenbach, Kate Braun 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. Macronemurus perlatus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/12/14/macronemurus-perlatus/

View the above photo record (by Craig Peter) in LacewingMAP here.

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Hagenomyia tristis 

(Walker, 1853)

Identification

Size: Small to medium sized (Wingspan around 58mm)

Hagenomyia tristis is the mimic of Banyutus lethalis and the two bear a close resemblance. B. lethalis has longer antennae and clear wings with prominent black veining and a bicoloured pterostigma. H. tristis has shorter antennae, slightly irridescent wings with inconspicuous black veins and has smaller white pterostigmas.

Larvae: closely resemble those of Myrmeleon species.

Habitat

Hagenomyia tristis inhabits savanna woodland and forest regions. Adults are often found among tall grass in the dappled light beneath trees. Often in the same habitat as Banyutus lethalis.

Behaviour

The adults are nocturnal and spend the day resting among tall grass. They are frequently attracted to light.  Hagenomyia tristis is gregarious and often flies in mixed swarms with Banyutus lethalis, which it closely resembles – in a mimicry complex.

Adults are on the wing primarily during the Summer months from October to April but they may be recorded throughout the year in warmer areas.

The Larvae build pitfall traps and can often be found at the base of trees.

Status and Distribution

A common and widespread species throughout the tropics and subtropics of Africa, occurring from southern KZN and North West Province through Africa to Cameroon, Ethiopia and Madagascar. Hagenomyia tristis is absent from the drier areas of southern Africa.

Taxonomy:

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Myrmeleontinae Tribe: Myrmeleontini Genus: Hagenomyia Species: tristis

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Christopher Willis, Craig Peter, Esme Tenner, Norman Barrett and Wilna Steenkamp 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. Hagenomyia tristis. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/12/13/hagenomyia-tristis/

View the above photo record (by Evert Kleynhans) in LacewingMAP here.

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Hagenomyia lethifer 

(Walker, 1853)

Identification

Size: Small-medium (Wingspan 60mm)

Hagenomyia lethifer is easily recognised by its distinctive colouration. The head, thorax and abdomen are black with a broad cream stripe along the sides. The legs are bright red. Both pairs of wings are clear and unmarked.

Larvae: The larvae are characteristically pink in colour.

Habitat

Hagenomyia lethifer inhabits grasslands and savanna and is often found in damp areas with tall grass.

Behaviour

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

The larvae construct pitfall traps, often in open and exposed places.

In South Africa adults have been recorded from August to April, although most commonly recorded from December to April.

Status and Distribution

Hagenomyia lethifer is common and very widespread in South Africa, from the Western Cape Province northwards through most provinces, excluding the drier western areas. It extends northwards into Africa: Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Angola, Burundi.

Taxonomy:

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Myrmeleontinae Tribe: Myrmeleontini Genus: Hagenomyia Species: lethifer

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Evert Kleynhans, Rob Dickinson, Stephen Ball and T. de Wit 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. Hagenomyia lethifer. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/12/13/hagenomyia-lethifer/

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.

Habitat

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

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.

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.

Taxonomy

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

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/

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

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Distoleon pulverulentus

(Rambur, 1842)

Identification

Size: Small

Distoleon pulverulentus is generally dark gey in colouration with yellow accents, particularly on the thorax. The legs are yellow and the wings are clear with many small black speckles and yellow veins.

Larvae: Nothing is known of its larvae.

Habitat

Distoleon pulverulentus inhabits mid to high altitude grassland, often in mountainous regions. It is fairly common in the Drakensberg grasslands.

Behaviour

Adults are most active during the late summer months from December to April. They are readily attracted to lights.

Distoleon pulverulentus is most often encountered at rest as they cling vertically to grass stems and are frequently flushed along grass-lined pathways.

Status and Distribution

Distoleon pulverulentus is widespread but thinly distributed in South Africa. It can, however, be fairly common at some sites such as the grasslands of the Drakensberg. It has been recorded from all provinces in South Africa and is also known from Lesotho and Swaziland.

Taxonomy

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

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Alan Manson, Andrew & Heather Hodgson and Craig Peter 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. Myrmeleon obscurus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/12/11/distoleon-pulverulentus/

View the above photo record (by Johan Heyns) in LacewingMAP here.

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Creoleon africanus

(Rambur, 1842)

Identification

Size: Small to medium (Wingspan around 60mm)

Creoleon africanus has clear and mostly unmarked wings. The thorax and head are greyish with variable yellowish markings especially around the base of the wings. The legs too are yellowish-brown. The abdomen colour ranges from pale to dark grey, sometimes with a hint of brown.

Larvae: Larvae are unknown

Habitat

Creoleon africanus occupies a wide range of habitats from forest and savanna to fynbos and arid Karoo scrub.

Behaviour

Adults are nocturnal and they are regularly attracted to lights. As with other Creoleon species it rests with the wings wrapped around its body.

Adults are on the wing from September to May.

Larvae are unknown, but probably live freely in sand.

Status and Distribution

Creoleon africanus is widespread across Southern Africa. It is common in both the arid west and the moister east of the sub-region.

Taxonomy

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae Subfamily: Nemoleontinae Tribe: Nemoleontini Genus: Creoleon Species: africanus

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by Johan Heyns, Joubert Heymans 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. Creoleon mortifer. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/12/10/creoleon-africanus/

View the above photo record (by Norman Barrett) in LacewingMAP here.

Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Bankisus oculatus

Navás, 1912

Identification

Size: Small-Medium sized (Wingspan around 56mm)

Beautiful and delicate antlions with intricate wing markings. It has a distinctive dark and pale banded abdomen. Similar in appearance to the various species of Cymothales.

Habitat

Bankisus oculatus inhabits savanna woodlands.

Behaviour

It normally rests well camouflaged among grass or other vegetation. Adults are occasionally attracted to lights and are recorded from October to April.

The larvae live well concealed under dust in small recesses on sheltered rock ledges. They are typical “sit and wait” predators, relying on their camouflage to escape predation, as well as being concealed from potential prey.

Status and Distribution

Bankisus oculatus is is rather uncommon, but widespread in the northern parts of SA, extending into Zimbabwe.

Taxonomy:

Order: Neuroptera Family: Myrmeleontidae  Subfamily: Dendroleontinae Tribe: Dendroleontini Genus: Bankisus  Species: oculatus

Further Resources

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

Acknowledgements:

The use of photographs by AC. Roberts, Norman Barrett, Stephen Ball 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. Bankisus oculatus. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/12/08/bankisus-oculatus/