Subject: Possible lacewing
Geographic location of the bug: Lesbos
Date: 09/22/2017
Time: 07:50 AM EDT
Hi Daniel,
Another one for you.
It looks like a lacewing but doesn’t have the wing extensions.
I can’t find it on the internet and would appreciate your help as I would like to use the image in a talk to an RSPB group,
Regards,
How you want your letter signed: William Smiton
Dear William,
This is an Antlion, and they are classified with Lacewings as members of the order Neuroptera. We believe we have identified your Antlion as Palpares libelluloides thanks to Ray Wilson Bird Photography where it states: “Adult antlions can easily be mistaken for dragonflies or damselflies, especially impressive species such as Palpares libelluloides, the largest of the European antlions. They can all be readily distinguished from the Odonata, however, by their thickly clubbed antennae.” According to iNaturalist: “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.”
Many thanks Daniel. That will assist greatly with my talk, regards