[Ghostly Vision]

Hi everyone.

This was the size of a Small white butterfly, and had anal appendages similar to an earwig species. It had spectacular yellow patches in the wing, as can be seen from the photographs.

Taken 2nd May near Siena, Tuscany.

Anyone got any ideas to at least family level?

Thanks in advance

Sean

[Joern Lehmhus]

It is an Ascalaphus species , maybe A. libelluloides, but may also be a closely related species

[StuartReeves]

A fine beast. I would have had no idea myself but I think Joern has nailed it based on : http://www.hlasek.com/ascalaphus_lib...ides_6847.html

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Also known as Owlflies. Rather impressive.

[paul mabbott]

I know little about these but they're quite closely related to lacewings, alderflies, scorpion flies and that sort of thing. Interestingly (? don't doze off) for some reason they are on the badge/logo for the British Entomological and Natural History Society (BENHS) .....

[Ghostly Vision]

Hi all,

Thanks for this - I wouldn't have known where to start.

I had another suggestion elsewhere that this might be Libelloides coccajus, and my beastie seems to fit that one closer, based on the yellow on the hindwings. Is that the same species, or a different one? I'm still confused!

http://www.evasion.it/neurotteri/Lib...coccajus00.jpg

Sean

[Brian Stone]

Encountered these aescaphalids in Spain (Grazalema a couple of years ago). Interesting, but hard to watch/photograph as they were incredibly fast fliers:
http://pbc.codehog.co.uk/bhs/pics/20...3may05_800.jpg

I think Libelloides coccajus = Ascalaphus libelluloides but according to Fauna Europaea there are 10 species in the Libelloides genus.

[Brian Stone]

This is a good reference (c'est en francais):
http://cyrille.deliry.free.fr/ascalaphes.htm

Longicornis and coccajus seem to be the most widespread species so the latter is looking very likely.

[Ghostly Vision]

Thanks Brian - great help.

I think it is coccajus, then. Where I saw it is only round the corner from south-east France.

The ones I saw were very sluggish and easily netted, as it had just rained heavily. They flew with a lazy, slow action then landed and stayed still (as did the few Butterflies that were around). So it seems the rain was a blessing in this case.

Regards

Sean