''Palpares libelluloides'' is a species of

antlion The antlions are a group of about 2,000 species of insect in the neuropteran family Myrmeleontidae. They are known for the predatory habits of their larvae, which mostly dig pits to trap passing ants or other prey. In North America, the larvae ...

in the genus ''

Palpares ''Palpares'' is an antlion genus in the Myrmeleontidae family. Species * '' Palpares abyssinicus'' * '' Palpares adspersus'' * '' Palpares aegrotus'' * '' Palpares aeschnoides'' * '' Palpares alopecinus'' * '' Palpares amitinus'' * '' Palpar ...

'' belonging to the family

Myrmeleontidae The antlions are a group of about 2,000 species of insect in the neuropteran family Myrmeleontidae. They are known for the predatory habits of their larvae, which mostly dig pits to trap passing ants or other prey. In North America, the larvae ...

. It is found across Southern Europe.

Description

''Palpares libelluloides'' has a relatively large

wingspan The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777–200 has a wingspan of , and a wandering albatross (''Diomedea exulans'') caught in 1965 had a wingspan of ...

of more than . The very broad wings are mottled dark brown. The males can be recognized by their long, delicate genital appendages. The day-and night-active imagos can be observed from May to September. Their flight is usually short and close to the ground. The specific name ''libelluloides'' means "dragonfly-like" (cf the dragonfly genus ''

Libellula ''Libellula'' is a genus of dragonflies, commonly called skimmers, in the family Libellulidae, distributed throughout the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Most species are found in the United States, where they are the best-known larg ...

'').

Distribution

This species is widespread in the Mediterranean regions and it is mainly present in Albania, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Spain and Turkey. It can be found in thickets and rocky slopes up to about 1000 meters above sea level.

References

Biolib

Fauna europaea

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q146196 Myrmeleontidae Neuroptera of Europe Insects described in 1764 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus