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Unknown insect #804819

Asked August 05, 2022, 2:21 PM EDT

Anybody know what this insect is? Our grandsons (6 and 8 yrs old) are budding entomologists.

Frederick County Maryland

Expert Response

Forgot to state that it is 1.5", 4 cm long.
The Question Asker Replied August 05, 2022, 2:28 PM EDT
Nice find! These are not commonly encountered. This looks like a looks like Spotted-winged Antlion (Dendroleon obsoletus), a native insect found throughout Maryland. The link on that gallery page to the BugGuide database entry provides a few details about their life cycle.

Miri
Mira Talabac Replied August 08, 2022, 11:11 AM EDT
Thanks!
On Mon, Aug 8, 2022 at 11:11 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied August 08, 2022, 2:27 PM EDT
I see that this species prefers to live in holes in trees or logs. Nevertheless, we have a lot of these antlion-made traps under our porch stairs.
PXL_20220808_184827279.jpg
The Question Asker Replied August 08, 2022, 3:04 PM EDT
Neat! You probably have good habitat for several species of antlion, then.

Miri
Mira Talabac Replied August 08, 2022, 3:14 PM EDT

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