Genus Myrmeleon

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Life Cycle · Print References · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings and Allies)

Family Myrmeleontidae (Antlions)

Genus Myrmeleon

Explanation of Names

Author is Linnaeus 1767.

Name is an altered form of New Latin (Greek) Myrmecoleon--μιρμηκολεων, from μιρμηξ (μιρμηκ-) ant, plus λεων lion (1).

Numbers

Nearctica.com lists 10 species.

Identification

This is the only genus in North America in which the larvae make the funnel-shaped pits.

Wing venation of Myrmeleon:

Life Cycle

Larvae of Myrmeleon dig a shallow pit in loose sand to trap prey:

Print References

The Century Dictionary--entries for Myrmecoleon, Myrmeleon (1)

Works Cited

1.	The Century Dictionary: an encyclopedic lexicon of the English language

Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 18 August, 2006 - 12:26pm
Additional contributions by cotinis
Last updated 2 July, 2009 - 7:37am

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