A groundbreaking discovery has emerged from the Shadpada Entomology Research Lab (SERL) at Christ College (Autonomous) in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur: two entirely new species of antlions. These intriguing insects belong to the Myrmeleontidae family, part of the larger Neuroptera order.
The first of these remarkable finds, named Indophanes keralaensis, was found nestled within the lush forest regions of Sairandhri and Siruvani in Palakkad district, and also in the Pampadum Shola National Park in Idukki. Its name fittingly pays tribute to Kerala, a state largely defined by the Western Ghats—one of the world’s most vital biodiversity hotspots.
The second newly identified species, Indophanes sahyadriensis, made its appearance in Siruvani (Palakkad), Pakshipathalam and Thirunelly (Wayanad), and Ranipuram (Kasaragod). This name, too, is rooted in its origin, referring to ‘Sahyadri,’ the local moniker for the Western Ghats, a region celebrated for its unique native ecosystems.
Genus Indophanes
Before this discovery, the genus Indophanes was known to comprise nine species globally, with reported sightings in China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. These new additions now elevate the worldwide total to eleven species. Specifically for India, the count of Indophanes species has now reached five, with three of these exclusively found in Kerala.
These significant findings were officially published in the international scientific journal Zootaxa. The dedicated team behind this breakthrough includes Suryanarayanan T. B., a researcher at SERL and Assistant Professor at St. Aloysius College, Elthuruth; Bijoy C., research supervisor and head of SERL; and Hungarian scientist Levente Ábrahám, an Assistant Professor at Christ College.
Dr. Suryanarayanan emphasized the wider importance of their discovery, stating: “This truly highlights the essential role that academic institutions and local biodiversity surveys play in enriching India’s faunal inventory, especially concerning less-studied insect groups like antlions.”
Order Neuroptera
Antlions are sometimes confused with damselflies due to their similar appearance, but a key distinguishing feature is their long, clubbed antennae. Scientifically, antlions belong to the order Neuroptera, which encompasses holometabolous insects, meaning they undergo complete metamorphosis. Damselflies, on the other hand, fall under the order Odonata, consisting of hemimetabolous insects with incomplete metamorphosis.
While many antlion larvae are famous for expertly crafting conical sand pits to ambush prey, the larvae of the Indophanes genus have a different strategy. They reside beneath loose soil, seeking refuge from direct sunlight, wind, and rain, and do not construct these pits. With these two new additions, Kerala’s recorded antlion species now stand at 12, contributing to India’s expanded total of 110 species, as confirmed by Dr. Bijoy.
The research received vital support from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), located in New Delhi.