Diversity
Glenurus
is a genus of antlion that contains 9 subspecies. It has large, dark-marked wings.
This genus is unique from other genera of
Myrmeleontidae
by larvae having only two mandibular teeth. The larvae live in dry tree holes, under
rocks, or under tree roots. They move very slowly, but adults in some species can
move very quickly.
Geographic Range
Antlions are distributed throughout the United States in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky,
Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, and Tennessee. Species of this genus have
been found in Mexico and Argentina.
- Biogeographic Regions
- nearctic
- neotropical
Habitat
Larve live in dry tree holes, rotting wood, under rocks and tree roots, tree stumps,
and in
gopher tortoise
burrows. Many larvae are found in the presence of animal waste and wood debris. Antlion
larvae are commonly found in and around
southern live oak
trees.
- Habitat Regions
- temperate
- Terrestrial Biomes
- forest
Physical Description
Adult antlions have an elongated body and four wings. They resemble
dragonflies and damselflies
in appearance. Its wings are the most striking part of its bodies. The wings of most
subspecies are long, similarly shaped, partially transparent, and patterned with dark
coloring.
Glenurus heteropteryx
is the only species of the genus that does not have dark coloring on both wings.
Larvae of antlions have two mandibular teeth. They are cone-shaped and have small
tufts of hair.
- Other Physical Features
- ectothermic
- bilateral symmetry
- Sexual Dimorphism
- sexes alike
Development
Not much is known about oviposition and eggs of antlions. Depending on the amount
of available food and temperature, the larval stage can last for up to two years.
Once fully grown, the larvae create a cocoon in debris that measures around 13 mm
in diameter. Adults leave the cocoon up to 28 days after it was built.
- Development - Life Cycle
- metamorphosis
Reproduction
No information about mating systems for this genus was found.
Eggs hatch after fertilization and larvae emerge.
- Key Reproductive Features
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- fertilization
- oviparous
No information about parental involvement for this genus was found.
- Parental Investment
- no parental involvement
Lifespan/Longevity
Behavior
Antlions are found in and around tree holes, in burrows of animals, and under rocks.
Adults are attracted to light and can be seen flying near light sources at night.
Larvae may dig or chase prey. Sometimes, the larvae will lay in wait of prey.
Communication and Perception
Not much is known about the communication and perception of antlions. They may use visual, chemical, and tactical perception. Chemical and tactical communication is likely.
Food Habits
Antlions are a genus of predators. Adults often feed on caterpillars and aphids. Larvae
feed on the insects that share their habitats, such as
ants
,
beetle
larvae,
termites
, and other insect larvae like
tineid moths
.
- Primary Diet
- carnivore
Predation
The larvae of antlions are cryptic; they use their cone-shape as a camouflage. Parasites
and predators of this genus are not known.
- Anti-predator Adaptations
- cryptic
Ecosystem Roles
Antlions are a genus of insect predators. Larvae and adults hunt and catch insects. Spotted-winged antlions , members of a different genus in the same family, have been recorded living in the same habit.
- Spotted-winged antlions have been found cohabiting.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The hunting and feeding habits of antlions in this genus benefit humans by controlling pest populations.
- Positive Impacts
- controls pest population
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There are no known adverse effects of antlions on humans.
Conservation Status
No special status.
Additional Links
Contributors
Deena Hauze (author), Animal Diversity Web Staff.
- Nearctic
-
living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.
- Neotropical
-
living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.
- temperate
-
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
- forest
-
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
- metamorphosis
-
A large change in the shape or structure of an animal that happens as the animal grows. In insects, "incomplete metamorphosis" is when young animals are similar to adults and change gradually into the adult form, and "complete metamorphosis" is when there is a profound change between larval and adult forms. Butterflies have complete metamorphosis, grasshoppers have incomplete metamorphosis.
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- fertilization
-
union of egg and spermatozoan
- internal fertilization
-
fertilization takes place within the female's body
- oviparous
-
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.
- arboreal
-
Referring to an animal that lives in trees; tree-climbing.
- nocturnal
-
active during the night
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- sedentary
-
remains in the same area
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- cryptic
-
having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.
- carnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats meat
- insectivore
-
An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.
- ectothermic
-
animals which must use heat acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations to regulate body temperature
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
References
Penny, N., P. Adams, L. Stange. 1997. Species catalog of the Neuroptera, Megaloptera, and Raphidioptera of America North of Mexico. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences , 50(3): 39-114. Accessed May 15, 2020 at http://www.archive.org/stream/proceedingsofcal0450cali#page/39/mode/1up .
Stange, L., R. Miller. 2015. "common name: an antlion/scientific name: Glenurus gratus (Say) (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)" (On-line). Featured Creatures. Accessed May 14, 2020 at http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/neuroptera/Glenurus_gratus.htm .
Stange, L. 2000. "A Checklist and Bibliography of the Megaloptera and Neuroptera of Florida" (On-line). Florida State Collection of Arthropods. Accessed May 15, 2020 at http://www.fsca-dpi.org/Neuroptera/Neuroptera_of_Florida.htm .
Stange, L. 1970. A generic revision and catalog of the Western Hemisphere Glenurini with the description of a new genus and species from Brazil (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Contributions in Science , 186: 1-28. Accessed May 14, 2020 at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52108955#page/229/mode/1up .
Stange, L. 2000. Observations on the biology of the antlion genus Glenurus Hagen (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Insecta Mundi , 14(4): 228. Accessed May 14, 2020 at https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi/311/?utm_source=digitalcommons.unl.edu%2Finsectamundi%2F311&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages .