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Owlfly

Ascalaphidae encyopsidius

Description:

Owlflies are dragonfly-like insects with large bulging eyes and long knobbed antennae. They are neuropterans in the family Ascalaphidae; they are only distantly related to the true flies, and even more distant from the dragonflies and damselflies. They are diurnal or crepuscular predators of other flying insects, and are typically 5 cm (2.0 in) long. Owlflies are readily distinguished from dragonflies because the latter have short bristle-like antennae. The closely related antlions (family Myrmeleontidae) have short, clubbed antennae, smaller eyes, and very different wing venation.

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2 Comments

Neilen Joyce
Neilen Joyce 11 years ago

Hi Tom... thanks for quick reply! I'll have a look. I've never seen one before.

Tom15
Tom15 11 years ago

Nice spotting! This is an Owlfly in the family Ascalaphidae. Can't help beyond that.

Neilen Joyce
Spotted by
Neilen Joyce

Knysna Local Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa

Spotted on Mar 25, 2013
Submitted on Mar 25, 2013

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