Brachynemurus abdominalis

(Say, 1823)

Brachynemurus abdominalis is a of in the . It is one of 18 of antlions recorded north of Mexico. The species was originally described as Myrmeleon abdominalis by Thomas Say in 1823. Like other antlions, it undergoes with a predatory larval stage and a delicate, lacy-winged stage.

Brachynemurus abdominalis by (c) Samuel Paul Galick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Samuel Paul Galick. Used under a CC-BY license.

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Myrmeleontidae P1450062a by
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Pronunciation

How to pronounce Brachynemurus abdominalis: //ˌbrækɪnɪˈmjʊrəs æbˌdɒməˈnaɪlɪs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

can be distinguished from ( ) by their short, clubbed versus the long, thread-like antennae of damselflies. From other , Brachynemurus can be separated by their relatively large size and specific patterns. The genus Brachynemurus is distinguished from the pit-digging genus Myrmeleon by larval —Brachynemurus do not construct pits but instead lie in wait buried in loose substrate. Adults are most often seen among tall grasses, especially at dusk, and are frequently attracted to lights at night.

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Habitat

occur in fine, powdery soil or sandy substrates. They are found in dry, open including areas beneath rock overhangs, under bridges, dirt floors of old barns and sheds, and at the base of trees—situations that remain perpetually dry. frequent grasslands, prairies, and open areas with tall grasses, particularly near dusk.

Distribution

Found in Central America and North America. Within North America, the Brachynemurus occurs across the United States with recorded from Massachusetts west to Colorado and south through Texas and Florida.

Seasonality

are most commonly observed from late spring through summer. They are frequently attracted to lights at night. are present year-round in suitable substrates, in their developmental stage.

Diet

are predatory, feeding on and other small that come within reach of their . They inject through hollow that paralyze and begin , then imbibe the liquefied tissues. do not feed; their mouthparts are reduced and their attention is focused on .

Life Cycle

are laid in or on dry soil. hatch and bury themselves in loose substrate, where they remain for one or more years depending on and conditions. They through three , feeding on throughout this period. occurs inside a silken spun underground, with grains of sand incorporated into the structure. emerge from the and live for a relatively short period, as they do not feed.

Behavior

are sit-and-wait that remain motionless with agape, sensing vibrations from approaching . When prey triggers their trap, they grasp it with their hooked . are weak, clumsy fliers that are highly cryptic. Upon landing on grass stems or twigs, they instantly align themselves to match the substrate and become nearly invisible. They are most active at dusk.

Ecological Role

function as of small soil-dwelling , particularly , contributing to of these . serve as for various including birds and other . As a group, represent an important component of dry, sandy .

Human Relevance

, including Brachynemurus , are sometimes kept in captivity for observation by providing a container of fine sand and periodically adding . They have been used in educational contexts to demonstrate -prey relationships and . The pose no threat to humans or agriculture.

Similar Taxa

Myrmeleon spp. of Myrmeleon construct distinctive funnel-shaped pits to trap , while Brachynemurus larvae simply bury themselves in loose substrate without digging pits. Myrmeleon also have different patterns and body proportions.
Scotoleon spp.Another with similar , but Scotoleon males have particularly elongated with prominent , and the genus shows different geographic distribution patterns.
Damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) superficially resemble in their slender bodies and posture, but are distinguished by short, clubbed versus long, thread-like antennae, and by their -veined rather than parallel-veined wings.

More Details

Taxonomic history

Originally described by Thomas Say in 1823 as Myrmeleon abdominalis, this was later transferred to the Brachynemurus. Say's original description came from specimens collected in the eastern United States.

Larval behavior variation

Within , two distinct predatory strategies exist: pit-digging (exemplified by Myrmeleon) and pit-less ambush (exemplified by Brachynemurus and most other ). This behavioral dichotomy represents an important evolutionary divergence within the .