Crambomorphus McLachlan, 1867

Mansell, Mervyn W., 2018, Antlions of southern Africa: genus Crambomorphus McLachlan, 1867, including extra-limital species (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Palparinae: Palparini), Zootaxa 4382 (3), pp. 465-500 : 466

Crambomorphus McLachlan

Crambomorphus McLachlan, 1867: 243 . 342. Type species, by original designation: Palpares haematogaster Gerstaecker, 1863: 184 . 2553.

Diagnosis. Large Palparini , with characteristic narrow, sinuate or lanceolate, heavily-pigmented, densely reticulated wings; costal area usually with one or more irregular biaereolate or triaereolate cells. Head robust with raised vertex, distinct median stripe on head extending onto pronotum and mesonotum. The palpimacula on the terminal labial palpomere is a long slit that extends for much of the incrassate portion of the segment as far as the tip, but not beyond. Abdomen blood-red in living specimens (no observations for Madagascan specimens). Male ectoprocts black, forcipate. Males with gonarcus and parameres complex fused into a cone-shaped structure, gonarcal bulla prominent, parameres pitch black sculptured with microscopic striations. CuP in forewings not fused with A1; in hindwings CuA arches forward at junction with posterior branch of Mp fork, forming the typical palparine recurrent vein. All males with prominent pilula axilaris at base of the hindwing. Larvae characterized by reddish brown head and three mandibular teeth and thorax and abdomen black or pale with black markings.