Western Picture-winged Antlion
Glenurus luniger
This record describes Glenurus luniger (species). Recorded family: Myrmeleontidae. Recorded order: Neuroptera.
Identification and Appearance
Gerstaecker's original 1893 description (in German, with preface in Latin) is here .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies)
- Superfamily
- Myrmeleontoidea
- Family
- Myrmeleontidae (Antlions & Owlflies)
- Subfamily
- Nemoleontinae
- Genus
- Glenurus (Picture-winged Antlions)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Larvae found in leaf litter under rock overhangs and in dry wood debris in tree stumps ( 3 )
Geographic Range
AZ (but note cismontane BG record from Hemet, CA verified by Dr. Oswald).
About Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Neuroptera, the group containing Glenurus luniger. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Neuroptera (lacewings, antlions, owlflies) includes ~6,000 described species. Green lacewing larvae are called 'aphid lions' - a single larva can consume up to 200 aphids per week.
Ecological role of the group
Antlion larvae build conical pit traps in sandy soil - an engineering feat studied by physicists for insights into granular mechanics. Adult lacewings are important pollinators of night-blooming flowers.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lacewings are commercially reared and sold as biological pest control agents. The global biological pest control market, which heavily features lacewings, was valued at $6.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $16.4 billion by 2033.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA IPM, biological control market research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Western Picture-winged Antlion (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by cotinis , Aaron Schusteff , Robert H. Biagi , PaleoJon