Long-horned Antlion vs Picromerus Predatory Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Long-horned Antlion Picromerus Predatory Bug
Scientific Name Distoleon tetragrammicus Picromerus bidens
Order Neuroptera Hemiptera
Family Myrmeleontidae Pentatomidae
Size 30-40 mm body, 60-75 mm wingspan 11-14 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Forests
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe, North Africa Europe, northern Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Long-horned Antlion

A large antlion with intricately patterned wings and long clubbed antennae. Unlike most antlions, the larvae do not build pit traps.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae hide just beneath the sand surface and lunge at passing prey rather than using pit traps.

Picromerus Predatory Bug

A dark brown predatory stink bug with two prominent pronotal spines found across Europe. It is an important natural enemy of caterpillars in forests and orchards. Adults have a distinctly spiny appearance.

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Did You Know?

It hunts by gripping caterpillars many times its own weight with its strong forelegs while injecting paralyzing saliva, then draining the prey over several hours.