Myrmeleon crudelis
This record describes Myrmeleon crudelis (species). Recorded family: Myrmeleontidae. Recorded order: Neuroptera.
Identification and Appearance
Vertex entirely dark with reddish-brown tint, legs yellowish with dark tarsi (not reddish as in M. texanus ), clypeus marked with dark, body dark with yellowish markings on the thorax. Setae mostly white, female with black on the apical sternite of the abdomen.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies)
- Superfamily
- Myrmeleontoidea
- Family
- Myrmeleontidae (Antlions & Owlflies)
- Subfamily
- Myrmeleontinae
- Tribe
- Myrmeleontini
- Genus
- Myrmeleon (Pit-trapping Antlions)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
widespread eastern (FL, GA, MO, NC, NJ, NY, TX, VA)
About Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Neuroptera, the group containing Myrmeleon crudelis. 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 Myrmeleon crudelis (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jonathan Hoskins
Frequently Asked Questions About Myrmeleon crudelis
What is Myrmeleon crudelis?
Myrmeleon crudelis is a species in the family Myrmeleontidae, within the order Neuroptera.
How big is Myrmeleon crudelis?
Forewing 22-29 mm; abdomen 16-20 mm.
How do you identify Myrmeleon crudelis?
Vertex entirely dark with reddish-brown tint, legs yellowish with dark tarsi (not reddish as in M. texanus ), clypeus marked with dark, body dark with yellowish markings on the thorax. Setae mostly white, female with black on the apical sternite of the abdomen.
Where is Myrmeleon crudelis found?
Range: widespread eastern (FL, GA, MO, NC, NJ, NY, TX, VA)