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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Lacewing and Mantidfly

Lacewing and mantidfly are insects in the order Neuroptea (net winged insects). Both are quite rare, at least here in Malaysia. I have only seen like 7 lacewings in four years of macro photography, and even fewer mantidflies! Other Neuropterans like antlions and owlflies will be included here as well.

My first mantidfly. What a gorgeous creature!
mantidfly mantisfly mantispidae IMG_7640 copy

Another shot of this beauty.
mantisfly mantispidae IMG_7626 copy

Another one with slightly duller color. Not sure if it's the same genus with only sexual dimorphism or what? Or immature, yet to fully color up?
IMG_9104 copy mantisfly / mantidfly

Some very interesting images of a mantidfly laying eggs here. It is in Mandarin but you can just enjoy the images. Another one here.

Check out this totally cool clip on mantisfly larvae:




A new lacewing species I found in Selangor. Also my first time lucky with lacewing. Saw a couple before but never managed any decent shots. I first saw and photographed this species in the wild in its natural habitat on May 10, 2011. A few lacewing experts informed me that this could be a new species. Luckily, I came across this beautiful species again on Jan 27, 2012. Specimen was captured and sent to Mr. Winterton.

New species. Semachrysa jade. Taxon Author: Winterton, Guek & Brooks, 2012. More info here, here and here.

More images of this beautiful lacewing can be found here.


Semachrysa jade new lacewing species IMG_1619 copy

Beautiful lacewing - Semachrysa jade. hock ping guek - IMG_0155 merged copy



Beautiful lacewing - Semachrysa jade. - hock ping guek IMG_0161 merged copy

Semachrysa jade new lacewing species IMG_1624 copy

Lacewing from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo). Chrysopidia (s. str.) sp. - ID suggested by Roberto A. Pantaleoni.
IMG_1012 copy

Closer shot
IMG_1024 copy

My second time lucky with lacewing :)
chrysopidae lacewing IMG_4021 copy

Third time lucky with green lacewing:)
green lacewing IMG_9375 copy

Another one we found in Gunung Gading, Sarawak. Beautiful brown lacewing. Family: Hemerobiidae, Genus: Micromus(?)
brown lacewing Hemerobiidae Micromus IMG_7036 copy

Brown lacewing IMG_7033 copy

White lacewing, Ankylopteryx sp.
white lacewing Ankylopteryx  sp. IMG_8054 copy

white lacewing Ankylopteryx  sp. IMG_8048 copy

Italochrysa cf. insignis, ID credit: Roberto A. Pantaleoni. Selangor, Malaysia.
Italochrysa cf. insignis _MG_4518 copy

Beautiful lacewing photobombed by a winged ant! Italochrysa sp., near I. insignis - ID credit: Roberto A. Pantaleoni. Selangor, Malaysia.
Italochrysa cf. insignis _MG_4514 copy

Italochrysa cf. insignis _MG_4506 copy

Italochrysa cf. japonica, ID suggested by KS Wong.
Italochrysa cf. japonica_MG_3737 copy

Italochrysa cf. japonica, ID suggested by KS Wong.
Italochrysa cf. japonica_MG_3814 copy

Mnay of you may not have seen a live lacewing before but I am sure you have seen lacewing junior (larva!) at one time or another. Both adult lacewings and larvae are predatory and feed on plant pests like aphids.
lacewing larvaIMG_9019 copy

Check out this cool clip on lacewing larva:


All images shot with a 40D, MP-E65, MT-24EX Twin Flash and DIY Concave Diffuser. Full flash, 1/200, around F13, ISO 100, handheld.

Owlflies from Maliau Basin:
owlfly from Maliau Basin IMG_7137 copy
Ascalohybris borneensis

owlfly from Maliau Basin IMG_7152 copy

My first antlion (Myrmeleontidae)

A larva
antlion larva IMG_9510 copy

Full body shot. Myrmeleon sp. - IDed by Roberto A. Pantaleoni
adult antlion IMG_9730 merged copy

antlion IMG_9714 copy

Adult antlion, Distoleon sp., possibly D.dirus (Walker, 1853) - ID credit: Davide Badano. Selangor, Malaysia.
Distoleon sp. IMG_1089 copy

Dendroleon, close to caelestis. Possibly a new species - IDed by Виктор Кривохатский and Davide Badano.
Antlion Dendroleon sp. IMG_9352_3 merged copy

Same specimen as above
Antlion Dendroleon sp. IMG_9399 copy

Same specimen as above, closer.
Antlion Dendroleon sp. IMG_9366 copy


 

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