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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) » Pit-trapping Antlions (Myrmeleontini) » Pit-trapping Antlions (Myrmeleon)

Genus Myrmeleon - Pit-trapping Antlions

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

Pit-trapping Antlion - Myrmeleon exitialis

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 Myrmeleontini (Pit-trapping Antlions)

Genus Myrmeleon (Pit-trapping Antlions)

Other Common Names

Pit-digging Antlions

Explanation of Names

Myrmeleon Linnaeus 1767

From the Greek μύρμηξ (mýrmēx) 'ant' + λέων (léōn) 'lion'(1)

Numbers

12 spp. in our area (all in the nominate subgenus); ~189 spp. worldwide in 2 subgenera(2)(3)(4)

1. Myrmeleon arizonicus Banks, 1943: southwestern (AZ, CA, TX?)

2. Myrmeleon californicus Banks, 1943: southwestern (AZ, CA, NV)

3. Myrmeleon carolinus Banks, 1943: southeastern (FL, GA, NC, SC)

4. Myrmeleon crudelis Walker, 1853: eastern (FL, GA, MO, NC, NJ, NY, TX, VA)

5. Myrmeleon exitialis Walker, 1853 western (Canada: BC; United States: AZ, CA, NM, NV, OR, TX, UT)

6. Myrmeleon immaculatus DeGeer, 1773: eastern (Canada: ON, QC; United States: DC, FL, GA, IN, KS, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, VA, WI)

7. Myrmeleon insertus Hagen, 1861: southeastern (FL, Keys)

8. Myrmeleon invisus Walker, 1853: (south)eastern (FL, GA, NC, TX; NJ?)

9. Myrmeleon mexicanus: southwestern (AZ)

10. Myrmeleon mobilis Hagen, 1888: southeastern (AL, FL, GA, MO, NC)

11. Myrmeleon rusticus Hagen, 1861: western (AZ, CA, NM, UT; WY?)

12. Myrmeleon texanus Banks, 1990: southern (TX)

Identification

The only genus in our area whose larvae make the funnel-shaped pits.

Myrmeleon adults are typically recognizable in photos by their stockier build, white pterostigmas, and (often) simpler body markings.

Range

6 eastern and 5 western spp.; the only species that range into Canada are the western M. exitialis (BC)(2) and the eastern M. immaculatus (ON, QC)

Life Cycle

Larvae dig a shallow, funnel-shaped pit in loose sand to trap prey. They are only capable of moving backwards.(5)

Print References

Lucas J.R., Stange L.A. (1981) Key and descriptions to the Myrmeleon larvae of Florida (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Florida Ent. 64: 207-216. (Full text)

Works Cited

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

2.	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.

3.	A systematic catalog, bibliography, and classification of the world antlions (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) Lionel Alvin Stange. 2004. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 74: [iv]+565 pp,.

4.	Owlflies are derived antlions: anchored phylogenomics supports a new phylogeny and classification of Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera) Machado R.J.P., Gillung J.P., Winterton S.L., Garzón-Orduña I.J., Lemmon A.R., Lemmon E.M., Oswald J.D. 2018. Sys. Entomol. 44: 418–450.

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

Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 18 August, 2006 - 12:26pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Aaron Schusteff, v belov, Robert H. Biagi, PaleoJon
Last updated 8 July, 2024 - 11:09pm

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