Giant African Antlion vs Wesmael's Brown Lacewing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant African Antlion Wesmael's Brown Lacewing
Scientific Name Palpares speciosus Wesmaelius subnebulosus
Order Neuroptera Neuroptera
Family Myrmeleontidae Hemerobiidae
Size 100-130 mm wingspan 10-16 mm wingspan
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Woodlands
Diet Predators Herbivores
Regions Southern Africa, East Africa Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Giant African Antlion

A massive African antlion with strikingly marked black-and-yellow wings. One of the largest neuropteran insects in the world.

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Did You Know?

It is among the largest living neuropterans, with some individuals exceeding 13 cm in wingspan.

Wesmael's Brown Lacewing

A medium-sized brown lacewing with subtly patterned wings found across Europe. Frequent in gardens and deciduous woodland.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the earliest lacewings to appear in spring, sometimes active as early as March.