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Lacewing larva ?
Neuropterine larva
-23.5326, 27.097
Field Notes
Description:
Free living larva with a broad, flattened, soft body tapering towards the rear and with compact but powerful-looking, pincer-like jaws at the front end; about 15mm long and dull brown in colour.
Habitat:
lightly trampled area near cattle pens supporting weedy vegetation which is drying up, on sandy soil
Notes:
I only saw this little ugly critter by chance while chasing after a small grasshopper. As soon as the larva realised it had been seen it buried itself very rapidly by burrowing backwards at a 45 degree angle into the sand then moved a few inches away, still underground and then surfaced again, a quick shot and it was gone again.
I suspect this is a type of lacewing larva rather than an antlion as the latter tend to have jaws which are widely spread
Species ID Suggestions
Spotted for Missions
Photographed
PublishedMarch 24, 2013
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