Euroleon nostras

Euroleon nostras
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Neuroptera
Family: Myrmeleontidae
Genus: Euroleon
Species:
E. nostras
Binomial name
Euroleon nostras
(Fourcroy, 1785)

Euroleon nostras is a species of antlion found over most of Europe.[1][2] The scientific name can be translated as "our European [ant] lion".[3][4] Adults resemble dragonflies or damselflies and may reach up to 30 mm (1.2 in) long, with a wingspan of 70 mm (2.8 in). The larvae prey on ants and other small creatures and require dry sandy soil in which to dig their pitfall traps.

  1. ^ Ples, Marek (March 2023). "Lab Snapshots by Marek Ples: Entomology & Carcinology; Antlion Euroleon nostras". weirdscience.eu. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  2. ^ Niels Schulz. "Ameisenjungfer" (in German). natur-lexikon.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2007-02-06.
  3. ^ Kwizera, Charles (5 March 2010). "Wildlife Discovery: The Antlions". The New Times. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Nostras" here is not an inflection of the possessive "noster", but the adjective "nostras, -atis" meaning "of our country": so "European lion of our country" would perhaps be better.