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]
| Myrmeleon formicarius | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Neuroptera |
| Family: | Myrmeleontidae |
| Genus: | Myrmeleon |
| Species: | M. formicarius
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| Binomial name | |
| Myrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, 1767
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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".
References edit
- ^ "Myrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, 1767". Gbif.org.
- ^ "Mieco-effect, ecologisch advies- en studiebureau". Miecoeffect.be.
- ^ "Myrmeleon formicarius - Linnaeus, 1767". Eunis.eea.europa.eu.
- ^ "Antlion | insect". Encyclopedia Britannica.
- ^ "Twee soorten mierenleeuwen" (PDF). Nlmieren.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-03-24.
- ^ 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.