Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera) » Antlions and Allies (Myrmeleontiformia) » Antlions & Owlflies (Myrmeleontidae) » Spotted-winged Antlions and Allies (Dendroleontinae) » Dendroleon » (Eastern) Spotted-winged Antlion (Dendroleon obsoletus)

Species Dendroleon obsoletus - (Eastern) Spotted-winged Antlion

spotted-winged ant lion - Dendroleon obsoletus

Pennsylvania Antlion - Dendroleon obsoletus

Eastern Spotted-winged Antlion - Dendroleon obsoletus

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 Dendroleontinae (Spotted-winged Antlions and Allies)

Genus Dendroleon

Species obsoletus ((Eastern) Spotted-winged Antlion)

Explanation of Names

Dendroleon obsoletus (Say 1839)

Size

25-38 mm to wingtips

Identification

Large, with fairly intricate maculation on the forewings and distinctive black circular spots on the hindwings. Middle femora dark brown.(1) Legs longs and spindly. Antennae slightly clubbed, blackish at base and tips, pinkish in the middle.

♂

♀

Range

east of 100°W(1) (Canada: ON; United States: NH-FL west to KS-NM)(2)(3)

Habitat

Wooded areas(1)

Season

Jun-Sep in NC(4)

Life Cycle

Larvae live in dry tree holes and logs (including southern live oak, Quercus virginiana(1)) and are seldom found. They are also debris-carriers.(5) They overwinter in a cocoon. Female adults continue to feed after ovipositing and thus keep developing eggs.(1)

Remarks

Adults often come to lights.

Internet References

BOLD Systems website page Dendroleon obsoletus - Specimens identified by DNA testing

Works Cited

1.	A new species of the genus Dendroleon Brauer from Mexico (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) Lionel A. Stange. 2008. Insecta Mundi, 5400: 1-9.

2.	Neuropterida Species of the World catalogue (by J.D. Oswald)

3.	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.

4.	Insects of North Carolina C.S. Brimley. 1938. North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

5.	The ant-lions of Florida. II. Genera based on larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) Lionel A. Stange. 1980. Entomology Circular No. 221.

Contributed by Cotinis on 31 December, 2005 - 9:48am
Additional contributions by v belov, Robert H. Biagi, PaleoJon
Last updated 17 June, 2022 - 10:02pm

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