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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera) » Antlions and Allies (Myrmeleontiformia) » Antlions & Owlflies (Myrmeleontidae) » Giant, Long-tailed, and Pit-trapping Antlions (Myrmeleontinae) » Giant Antlions (Acanthaclisini) » Vella » Vella americana

Species Vella americana

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Works Cited
Moth??? - Vella americana Big guy. Dobsonfly / Fishfly? - Vella americana Vella americana larvae - Vella americana Vella americana larvae - Vella americana Vella americana? - Vella americana Snakefly of some kind? - Vella americana huge antlion - Vella americana antlion? - Vella americana
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies)
Suborder Myrmeleontiformia (Antlions and Allies)
Family Myrmeleontidae (Antlions & Owlflies)
Subfamily Myrmeleontinae (Giant, Long-tailed, and Pit-trapping Antlions)
Tribe Acanthaclisini (Giant Antlions)
Genus Vella
Species americana (Vella americana)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Vella americana (Drury, 1770)
Size
very large--wingspan to circa 125 mm, body length circa 50 mm (Banks, 1927; guide images)
Identification
♂
♀
Range
e. US (NY-FL);(1) newly reported in TX
Food
Various other insects, including other antlions.(2)
Life Cycle
Larvae are found in open trails in the sand. Their development takes several years.(2)
Print References
Banks, Nathan (1927). Revision of the Nearctic Myrmeleonidae. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 68(1): 1-84 (BHL link)
Works Cited
1.Species catalog of the Neuroptera, Megaloptera, and Raphidioptera of America North of Mexico
Penny N.D., Adams P.A., Stange L.A. 1997. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 50: 39‒114.
2.The ant-lions of Florida. II. Genera based on larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)
Lionel A. Stange. 1980. Entomology Circular No. 221.
Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 13 May, 2008 - 7:18am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Aaron Schusteff, v belov, Robert H. Biagi, PaleoJon
Last updated 25 August, 2022 - 6:58pm

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