Myrmeleon formicarius

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Myrmeleon formicarius
Myrmeleon formicarius (9564014813).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Neuroptera
Family: Myrmeleontidae
Genus: Myrmeleon
Species:
M. formicarius
Binomial name
Myrmeleon formicarius
Linnaeus, 1767

Myrmeleon formicarius is a species of antlion native to Belgium and other parts of Europe. [1] It is known to be present in the Genk nature reserve Opglabbekerzavel in 2020, according to the species inventory prepared for the city by the ecological study/advice company Mieco-effect. [2]

According to the European Environment Agency, this species has not yet been assessed by the IUCN and as such lacks an official conservation threat status. [3] Despite there being little species-specific information available online, the Encyclopædia Britannica describes it as "the best known of the 65 described species" of antlions. [4]

It has been suggested that there is a great deal of confusion in the distinction of individuals between M. formicarius and Euroleon nostras. [5] The easiest hallmark of M. formicarius larvae is its largely black head, but this can easily be mis-seen due to fine humus/substrate particles clinging to their many head hairs. For adults, the lack of black flecks in their wing colours is an identifying feature.

A 2020 study by Wu et al., sequenced their mitochondrial genome and found that they are most closely related to Myrmeleon immanis, another antlion species. [6]

The common name of M. formicarius in Dutch is Zwartkopmierenleeuw, which translates to "Blackhead antlion".

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References

  1. "Myrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, 1767". Gbif.org.
  2. "Mieco-effect, ecologisch advies- en studiebureau". Miecoeffect.be.
  3. "Myrmeleon formicarius - Linnaeus, 1767". Eunis.eea.europa.eu.
  4. "Antlion | insect". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  5. "Twee soorten mierenleeuwen" (PDF). Nlmieren.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  6. Jieqin Wu; Shaozhen Wang; Xiaozhen Yang; Yajie Guo; Xiaoqian Weng; Songqing Wu (2020). "The complete mitochondrial genome of Myrmeleonformicarius (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)". Mitochondrial DNA Part B. 5:2: 1798–1799. doi: 10.1080/23802359.2020.1750977 . Retrieved 2022-03-24.