Malagasy Ant Lion vs Giant Lacewing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Malagasy Ant Lion | Giant Lacewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Palpares lenticularis | Polystoechotes punctata |
| Order | Neuroptera | Neuroptera |
| Family | Myrmeleontidae | Ithonidae |
| Size | 60-80 mm wingspan | 40-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Madagascar | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Malagasy Ant Lion
A large neuropteran with broad, spotted wings that resemble those of a dragonfly. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to lights, while larvae dig conical pit traps in sandy soil.
Did You Know?
Larvae sit buried at the bottom of their funnel-shaped sand traps and flick sand grains at prey to prevent escape.
Giant Lacewing
Once widespread across North America, it vanished from the eastern US by the 1950s. A single specimen was rediscovered in Walmart parking lot in Arkansas in 2012 after 50 years.
Did You Know?
This giant lacewing was thought extinct in eastern North America for 50 years — until a single specimen was collected at a Walmart parking lot in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2012.