Myrmeleon formicarius
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
Myrmeleon formicarius is a species of antlion native to Belgium and other parts of Europe. It is known to be present in the Genk nature reserve Opglabbekerzavel in 2020, according to the species inventory prepared for the city by the ecological study/advice company Mieco-effect.
According to the European Environment Agency, this species has not yet been assessed by the IUCN and as such lacks an official conservation threat status. Despite there being little species-specific information available online, the Encyclopædia Britannica describes it as "the best known of the 65 described species" of antlions.
It has been suggested that there is a great deal of confusion in the distinction of individuals between M. formicarius and Euroleon nostras. The easiest hallmark of M. formicarius larvae is its largely black head, but this can easily be mis-seen due to fine humus/substrate particles clinging to their many head hairs. For adults, the lack of black flecks in their wing colours is an identifying feature.
A 2020 study by Wu et al., sequenced their mitochondrial genome and found that they are most closely related to Myrmeleon immanis, another antlion species. The common name of M. formicarius in Dutch is Zwartkopmierenleeuw, which translates to "Blackhead antlion". Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 2 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Myrmeleon formicarius sighting in Bavarian Forest National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 822nd most-seen of the 1115 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Myrmeleon formicarius in Bavarian Forest National Park on a given day, against under 5% in July to May, the lowest months.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Myrmeleon formicarius sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Myrmeleon formicarius sightings, Bavarian Forest National Park has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (Spain, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Myrmeleon formicarius is recorded against all the insects logged in Bavarian Forest National Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
