Ascalorphne macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839 )

Schuster, Phillip Alves & Machado, Renato José Pires, 2022, Insights on the evolution of Ululodini (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Ascalaphinae), focusing on the systematics of the genus Ascalorphne Banks, 1915, Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (e 20220070) 66, pp. 1-21 : 4-10

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1590/1806-9665-RBENT-2022-0070

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0389B925-F642-FF8C-4727-FD6542ACFE23

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Ascalorphne macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839 )
status

 

Ascalorphne macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839) View in CoL

Figs. 1A View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 , 7B View Figure 7 , 15J View Figure 15 , 18C View Figure 18 .

Ascalaphus macrocercus Burmeister, 1839:1000 View in CoL (original description); Hagen, 1861:326 (list); Hagen, 1866:385 (cited); McLachlan, 1873:252 (taxonomy); van der Weele, 1908:139 (list); Navás,1912b:80 (list); Banks, 1915:350 (taxonomy); Penny, 1977:11 (list); Penny, 1981b:404: (cited); Oswald and Penny, 1991:10 (list).

Orphne macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839) View in CoL : McLachlan, 1871:252, 401 (new combination/ distribution); van der Weele, 1908:139 (cited/ taxonomy/ redescription); Navás, 1912a:223 (key); Navás, 1912b:80 (key/ list/ taxonomy); Navás, 1913:64 (key).

Suhpalacsa macrocercus ( Burmeister, 1839) View in CoL : Taschenberg, 1879:221 (redescription/ taxonomy/ distribution); Lefèbvre,1842:7 (key); van der Weele, 1908:139 (cited); Penny, 1977:11 (list).

Suhpalacsa View in CoL macroceras ( Burmeister, 1839): Taschenberg, 1879:221 (redescription/ taxonomy/ distribution).

Colobopterus macrocercus ( Burmeister, 1839) View in CoL : Hagen, 1866:399 (new combination).

Ascalorphne macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839) View in CoL : Banks, 1915:350 (new combination); Navás, 1920:37 (cited); Navás, 1928:109 (cited); Penny, 1977:11 (list/ distribution); Heckman, 2017:201 (key); Ardila-Camacho et al., 2019:3 (list); Oswald, 2022 (catalog); Schuster & Machado, 2021 (distribution); Machado & Martins, 2022 (catalog).

Diagnosis. Tuft of brown, long setae on the dorsolateral margin of clypeus. Males with short and thick setae, resembling spines, on the apices of flagellomeres 8-23. Fusiform antennal club, brown and with whitish/yellowish tip. Thorax with pleural region with conspicuous yellow spots and intense white pilosity. Coxae, trochanter and femur yellow, tibia with a variegated pattern of black and yellow. Ectoproct of both sexes with a wide sclerotized band.

Dimensions (mm). Body: ♀ 22.6 ± 3.06/ ♂ 23.9 ± 2.6; antennae: 31.2 ♀ ± 1.64/ ♂ 31.82 ± 2.53; forewing: ♀ 27.48 ± 1.35/ ♂ 26.08 ± 1.5; hind wing: ♀ 25.18 ± 2.01/ ♂ 24.38 ± 2.1.

Head ( Figs. 2D, E View Figure 2 ). As in the description of the genus, but differing in the following characteristics: presence of tufts of brown and long setae on the dorsolateral margin of the clypeus; labial palp brown; antennae dark brown with black rings, with 44-45 flagellomeres, long, surpassing the apex of the forewing; in males the flagellomeres 8-23 have short and thick setae but in females these setae are simple and elongated, antennal club fusiform, dorsally brown and ventrally whitish/yellowish.

Thorax ( Figs. 2B, C View Figure 2 ). Pleural region brown with yellow spots and with abundant long white setae and some black; brown/yellowish pronotum with yellowish margin; prescutum yellowish; scutellum black. Leg. Coxae and trochanter yellowish, femur yellowish at the base and dark at the apex; tibia with a variegated pattern of black and yellow; tarsomeres yellowish with black apex and short black setae.

Forewing ( Fig. 2A View Figure 2 ). Membrane usually hyaline, veins brown; pterostigma brown, with 6 crossveins; apical area, after fusion of Sc+R, with 3-5 cell lines; RP with 5 branches; MA long, without branches, extending beyond the third bifurcation of RP; CuA+MP with 11 branches; CuP straight and short, extending to the origin of RP; cubital area with 3-4 cell lines. Hind wing ( Fig. 2A View Figure 2 ). Membrane and veins as above; pterostigma smaller, brown with 5 crossveins; MA straight, ending after the third RP branch; CuP straight, extending to the first RP branch; cubital area with 2-3 cell lines.

Abdomen ( Figs. 2B, C View Figure 2 ). Shorter than wings, brown/yellowish. Terminalia and genitalia ( Fig.3 View Figure 3 ). ♂: Ectoproct oval with a wide sclerotized band; T9 light brown, triangular, in lateral view, and with longer setae on the ventral portion; GPC, in lateral view, with GX11 wide and GX9, in dorsal view, narrow. ♀: Ectoproct with a wide sclerotized band.

Morphological variation. The pattern of macules in the eyes is highly variable. The general body coloration varies between light to dark brown; the pleural region can be brown and without distinct yellow spots, the pattern of spots on the dorsum of the thorax can be conspicuous or not, and the wing membrane can be pigmented (ambar/ brownish) depending on the location or method of preservation.

Temporal distribution. Based on the dates on the labels of the analyzed specimens, adults of this species are usually collected between November and April, and are not observed between March and October.

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 12 View Figure 12 ). Brazil: Bahia ( Burmeister, 1839),

Espírito Santo ( van der Weele, 1908), Maranhão *, Minas Gerais *, Paraná ( Schuster and Machado 2021), Rio de Janeiro ( van der Weele, 1908), Santa Catarina ( van der Weele, 1908), São Paulo *. iNaturalist: Brazil : Bahia, Minas Gerais *, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo *.

Primary types ( Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ). Ascalaphus macrocercus , 3 ♀, MCZ, high resolution images analyzed. Lectotype (here designated): ♀, type 3 (MCZ-ENT 0010525); type locality: Bahia; labels: 1) A. macrocercus *Burm., 2) Winthem, 3) Type 3 10525, 4) MCZ-ENT 0010525; condition: great.

Paralectotypes. 1 ♀, label s: 1) A.macrocercus *Burm., 2) Winthem, 3) Type 2 10525, 4) MCZ-ENT 00641047; condition: good, antennae missing / 1♀, labels: 1) A. macrocercus mihi * Burm. P. 1000 NO: 3 Bahia ,

2) Winthem, 3) Type 10525, 4) MCZ-ENT 00641048; condition: good, antennae missing.

Examined specimens. Brazil – Espírito Santo: • Conceição da Barra; 8.xi.1969; 1 ♂; C.T. & C. Elias • Iconha, Sítio Laranjeira; 20°’8’16.1318”S 40°’46’27.2834” W; 16.ix-14.x.2018; 1 ♂; Malaise; M.S. Lovali e equipe cols.; UFES160650 • Vitória, Jardim Penha Gomes; 10.xii.2000; I.T. col.; 1 ♀; UFESN54621. Maranhão: • Balsas, 525m; 8°’8’S46°’3’W; 15.ii.1999; 1♀; CZMA • Linhares, 20km, N. of Linhares, Forest. Reserv., 40 m; 19.iv.1992; 1♀; Edward S. Ross; CASENT8472563. Minas Gerais: • Belo Horizonte; 28.xi.1966; 1 ♀ e 1 ♂; O.H.H. Mielke Leg.; DZUP381249, DZUP381241 • Betim, Casa Amarela, Maloca, 795m; 20°00’2.3”S 44°13’18.7”W; 4.iii.2021; 1♂; puçá; A.R. Lima leg.; UFMG INE2200023 • Marliéria, Parque Estadual do Rio Doce; 19.xi.1980 - 26.xi.1980; 2 ♂ 6♀; M.A. Vulcano & F.S. Pereira et. al. leg.; UFMG INE2200007- 2200014 • idem, 13.xii.1978; 4 ♂ 3 ♀; UFMG INE220000-220006 • Ouro Preto, S. Bartolomeu, RPPN Quinta dos Cedros, 1035m; 20°17’38.4”S 43’34’ 14.7”W; 17.iii.2013; 3 ♂ 1 ♀; lençol iluminado; P.G.Dias leg.; UFMG INE2200020, 2200021, 2200022 • idem, 01-3.iii.2013, 1 ♀; F. A. Silveira et al. leg. UFMG INE2200017 • S. Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo, E.A. Peti, CEMIG, 630m, 19°53′02”S; 43°22′21″W; 8-15.iii.2013; 1 ♂; luminosa, A.R. Lima et al. leg.; UFMG INE2200016 • idem, 10-17.xii.2012; 1♂; UFMG INE2200018. Paraná: • Antonina, Reserva Sapitanduva ; 25°28′00ʺS 048°50′00ʺW; 30.xii.1986, 31.i.1987, 32.i.1987, 26.ii.1987, 27.iii.1987, 28.iii.1987; 4♀ e 3♂; luminosa; R.C.Marinoni e R.R.C. Dutra leg.; PROFAUPAR; DZUP381644, DZUP381648, DZUP381652, DZUP381654-381656 • Antonina, RPPN Reserva Natural Guaricica (SPVS), alojamento Bom Jesus, 9 m. a. s. l; 25°18’42”S 48º40’18”W; 25-29.xi.2019; 2 ♂; pano branco; PPGEnto/ Entomol. de Campo UFPR leg.; DZUP • Fênix, Reserva Estadual Vila Rica (ITCF); 23°54′51ʺS 051°57′45ʺW; 01.i.1987; 1 ♀ e 1 ♂; luminosa; R.C. Marinoni e R.R.C. Dutra leg.; PROFAUPAR; DZUP38164 • Ponta Grossa, Vila Velha, res. IAPAR BR 376; 25°13′02ʺS 050°02′14ʺW; 27.i.1987; 2 ♂; luminosa; R.C.Marinoni e R.R.C. Dutra leg.; PROFAUPAR; DZUP381649 • Morretes, IAPAR; 21.ii.1985; 2 ♀; luminosa; C.I.I.F; DZUP381211 • idem, 11.iii.1985; 2 ♀; DZUP381761 • idem, 06.iv.1985; 2 ♀; DZUP381209 • Telêmaco Borba, Reserva Biológica Klabin; 24°17′00ʺS 050°37′00ʺW; 26.ii.1987, 27.ii.1987, 28.ii.1987, 01.iii.1987, 27.iii.1987, 29.iii.1987; 6♀ e 1♂;

luminosa; R.C.Marinoni e R.R.C. Dutra leg.; PROFAUPAR; DZUP381646, DZUP381647, DZUP381650, DZUP381651, DZUP381653, DZUP381657.

Rio de Janeiro: • Cachoeiras de Macacu , CEDAE 550m; 18-21.i.1996 ; 1 ♀ e 3 ♂; O.C. Mielke & Mers leg.; DZUP381765 • Guapimirim; 1.iii.1970;

1 ♂; O.H.H. Mielke • Nova Friburgo, Lumiar, Sítio Kikiô, Rio Bonito el. 729m; 22º24’24”S 42º22’11”W; 29-31.xii.2017 GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂; luminosa; A.P. M.S. & D.M.T.; DZUP • Duque de Caxias, Nova Campinas ; 28.xi.2010 ; 1 ♀; Lopes, T.R.P.; UFBA#N350. • Porto Real ; 1 ♀; Hardy de Dréneuf; Coll. V. D. Weele leg. 1907 n°6, Cat. n° 1; NBC. São Paulo: • Ribeirão Grande , Parque Estadual Intervales , ponto 5; 24°16’23”S 48°25’ 21.8”O; 21.ii.2011 GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀; Malaise, ETOH 99,3 INPM; R.I.R.Lara e eq., cols. • idem, 24°16’27.7”S 48°25’19.3”O; 22.i.2010 GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂. Santa Catarina: • Rio dos Cedros, 600m; 26°42 44.48S 49°20’57.95”W; 29.xii.2020 - 06.i.2021 GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀; L. Queiros- Santos leg.; UFPR; DZUP.

Comments. Almost nothing is known about the biology of this species, larvae are unknown. The most effective capture methods for adults are light traps and Malaise. This species occurs in the South, Southeast and Northeast geopolitical regions of Brazil. The presence of repagula is shown in this study for the first time ( Fig. 7B View Figure 7 ).

Regarding the type series, McLachlan (1871) stated: “Burmeister’s examples were probably females, although he indicates that he had seen both sexes”. In fact, as verified in the type material deposited at the MCZ, Burmeister described this species based on three females, meaning that the distinct setae on the male’s antennae were only noticed by van der Weele (1908), but had never been properly described and illustrated in the literature, until now ( Fig. 18C View Figure 18 ).

No specimen was indicated in the original publication as the holotype and therefore, according to the code 74.1 of the ICZN, the MCZ-ENT 0010525 specimen housed in the MCZ is herein designated as the lectotype, as it is the only one of the type series that has the antennae attached. Oswald (2022) cites the existence of a female syntype hosted at the Martin-Luther-Universität, Zoological Museum, Halle-Wittenberg , Sachsen-Anhalt, but it was not possible to analyze it .

Another noteworthy observation is the presence of a specimen (CASENT 8472562) identified as A. macrocerca collected in Ecuador and housed at the CAS Entomology collection (https://www.gbif.org/ occurrence/3080511303). The study of photographs of this specimen revealed that it is actually a male of Ameropterus dissimilis, the confusion was probably due to the thick setae on male’s antennae of these two species (see the discussion of morphological characters below).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Neuroptera

Family

Ascalaphidae

Genus

Ascalorphne

Loc

Ascalorphne macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839 )

Schuster, Phillip Alves & Machado, Renato José Pires 2022
2022
Loc

Ascalorphne macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839 )

Heckman, C. W. 2017: 201
Penny, N. D. 1977: 11
Navas, L. 1928: 109
Navas, L. 1920: 37
1920
Loc

Suhpalacsa macrocercus ( Burmeister, 1839 )

Penny, N. D. 1977: 11
van der Weele, H. W. 1908: 139
Taschenberg, E. 1879: 221
Lefebvre, A. G. 1842: 7
1879
Loc

Suhpalacsa

Taschenberg, E. 1879: 221
1879
Loc

macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839 )

Navas, L. 1913: 64
Navas, L. 1912: 223
Navas, L. 1912: 80
van der Weele, H. W. 1908: 139
McLachlan, R. 1871: 252
1871
Loc

macrocercus ( Burmeister, 1839 )

Hagen, H. A. 1866: 399
1866
Loc

Ascalaphus macrocercus

Oswald, J. D. & Penny, N. D. 1991: 10
Penny, N. D. 1981: 404
Penny, N. D. 1977: 11
Navas, L. 1912: 80
van der Weele, H. W. 1908: 139
Hagen, H. A. 1866: 385
Hagen, H. A. 1861: 326
Burmeister, H. C. C. 1839: 1000
1839
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