Explanation of Names
From Old World genus
Ascalaphus. That from Greek, ασκαλαφοσ, "an unknown bird, supposed to be a kind of owl"
(1).
The name also has an association in Greek mythology. Quoting this
Wikipedia article: (Ascalaphus was the) Son of Acheron and Orphne. He told the other gods that Persephone had eaten a pomegranate in Hades. He was punished by being changed into an owl.
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists two North American genera: Ascaloptynx (1 species,
appendiculata/-us), and
Ululodes (5 spp.)
Size
40-50 mm (including wings, antennae)
Identification
Bizarre creatures that look like a cross between a dragonfly and a butterfly. The body resembles that of other neuropterans, more-or-less, but the prominent antennae are clubbed like those of butterflies. Key characters:
Medium to large size
Clubbed antennae
Eyes large and bulge out from head
may rest in cryptic posture with abdomen projecting from perch, resembling a twig
Some images showing these characters:
Wing venation of
Ululodes:
The two North American genera can be keyed easily based on structure of the eyes. Genus
Ululodes has divided eyes:
Genus
Ascaloptynx (sometimes the one North American species is listed under
Haplogenius) has undivided eyes:
Food
Adults said to prey on insects.
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid on twigs:
Larvae predatory, lie on ground covered with debris waiting for prey
(2). They resemble the larvae of ant-lions, but have a "finger-like appendage" on the side of each segment
(3). Images below presumably show different ages of development:
Some genera actively cement sand and debris onto their bodies as camouflage. (Henry, see print references.) Pupation occurs in a silk cocoon in leaf litter.
Print References
The Century Dictionary--entries for Ascalaphus, Ascalaphidae
(1)
Borror, describes family, illustrates wing venation, pp. 145-146.
(2)
Chu, p. 145, fig. 397--illustrates larva
(3).
Arnett, p. 355, figs. 23.14--
Acaloptynx appendiculatus, 23.15--Ululodes arizonensis
(4)
Deyrup, p. 81, has excellent photos of
Ululodes, though he does not name genus.
(5)
Castner, pp. 108-109, illustrates
Ululodes (6)
Henry, The Behavior and Life Histories of Two North American Ascalaphids. Annals Entomological Society of America, vol. 70 no. 2 (March 1977). This describes life histories.
Lago and Testa. 1989. Records of owlflies (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae) from Mississippi, with a key to species. Entomological News. 100(1):11-17.
Penny et al. 1997. Species catalog of the Neuroptera, Megaloptera, and Raphidioptera of America north of Mexico. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 50(3): 39-114. (reference from Checklist of Kansas Neuroptera)
Internet References
NCSU Entomology Collection lists species in this family, with number pinned, as:
Colobopterus excisus (15)=
Ululodes quadrimaculata (male),
Ululodes quadrimaculata (20),
Neuroptynx appendiculatus (10)--(
Colobopterus excisus is a synonymn for U. quadrimaculata.)
Annotated Checklist of Kansas Neuroptera has illustrations of
Ululodes species, discussion, references.
Family Description--Ascalaphidae, University of Florida--an excellent summary with references.
Neuroptera of Florida describes family briefly, lists four species of owlfly for Florida.
