For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The Bush - Part 5

I found two new (for me) species of Lacewings and Antlions.
The first is the Mottled Veld (field) Antlion - Palpares caffer - which is very large. This one was about 3” in body length with a 4” length to its wings.
They have two sets of wings and the patterns on each are vastly different.
They are a very widespread species, extending in tropical Africa and are found in a variety of habitats.
This is its larvae who travel freely just under the soil ambushing prey.
A Gregarious Antlion – Hagenomyia tristis – with a bluish tint to its wings and yellow legs.
This is smaller than the first species, maybe 2 inches in wing length.
A larvae which I do not know the species of but might belong to the species below.
A Red Lacewing – Dysochrysa furcata.