Libelloides coccajus

Libelloides coccajus, the "owly sulphur", is an owlfly species belonging to the family Ascalaphidae, subfamily Ascalaphinae.

Libelloides coccajus
Male
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Neuroptera
Family:	Ascalaphidae
Genus:	Libelloides
Species:	L. coccajus
Binomial name
Libelloides coccajus (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Synonyms
Ascalaphus coccajus (Schiffermüller, 1776) Ascalaphus libelluloides (Schäffer, 1763) Libelloides italicus (Fabricius, 1781)

Distribution

This rare insect is present in France, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

Habitat

These owlflies mainly inhabit areas with tall grass and sunny rocky slopes, at an elevation up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above sea level. They have been sighted at elevations of up to 1800m on the French/Italian border in the high Susa Valley

Description

The adults reach 25 millimetres (0.98 in) of length, with a wingspan of 45–55 millimetres (1.8–2.2 in). The body is black and quite hairy. The eyes are large and bulging; the antennae are long and clubbed. The wings do not have scales and are partly transparent, with bright yellow areas in the first third, dark brown on the external side. An elongated black area is present towards the end of the posterior edge of the wing. The venation is black. The wings are held spread at rest, as in dragonflies. This species is rather similar to Libelloides lacteus.

Taxonomy

The Libelloides italicus type in the University of Copenhagen Zoological Museum, does not correspond to any endemic species of Ascalaphidae living exclusively in the Italian peninsula and it is now considered to be a junior synonym of Libelloides coccajus.

Biology

Adults can be encountered from April through July. They are diurnal predators of other flying insects. Eggs are laid in groups on stems of herbaceous plants. Larvae are fearsome predators too. They lie on the soil surface waiting for prey. They live for about two years.

Owly Sulphur, Claviere, 1800amsl, Italy 2019

Gallery

• 
  Female with eggs
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  Museum specimen