Neuroleon ruber Michel & Akoudjin

Michel, Bruno & Akoudjin, Massouroudini, 2012, Review of Neuroleon Navás of West Africa with descriptions of four new species (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), Zootaxa 3519, pp. 32-52 : 49

Neuroleon ruber Michel & Akoudjin , nov. sp.

( Figs. 64–72 )

Diagnosis. Medium-sized species ( Fig 64 ). Pronotum with two longitudinal dark lines largely separated ( Fig. 67 ). Most of the crossveins suffused with brown. Body of some individuals orange.

Description. General coloration brown to orange. Head. Face yellowish with black marking around base of antennae, a black vertical line in middle of face extending to basal dark margin of labrum ( Fig. 66 ). Antennae orange at least in living specimens. Thorax. Pronotum with two conspicuous longitudinal lines largely separated ( Fig. 67 ). Meso and meta pleurites with two stripe-like markings ( Fig. 68 ). Legs. Yellow. In fore and middle legs tibial spurs as long as basal tarsomere. In hind leg tibial spurs half of basal tarsomere ( Fig. 69 ). No sexual dimorphism in hind leg. Forewing. No crossvein in apical field. Most crossveins suffused with brown. Two rows of brown gradates ( Fig. 64, 65 ). Hind wing. In male some small brown dots along posterior margin in distal part. In female this dark area is more visible ( Fig. 65 ). Abdomen. Brown to orange at least in living specimens. Male. Parameres V-shaped and slender without seta. Gonosaccus with eight to nine long black setae. Subgenital plate triangular ( Fig. 70, 71 ). Female. Gonapophyseal plate narrow, strongly arched ( Fig. 72 ).

Type material examined. Holotype 3 MALI, Bamako 50 km South of the city, road to Bougouni 13.IX.1996 (Coll. CIRAD-CBGP) . Paratypes (16 3, 15 ♀♀) MALI Bamako idem holotype 23 1♀ 13.IX.1996 . Sikasso 13 05.X.1994, side of the airstrip ; 3♀♀ 24.X.1993 ; 63 2♀♀ 25.X.1994 ; 23 2♀♀ 26.X.1993 ; 1♀ 01.XI.1995, side of the airstrip ; 1♀ 07.XI.1994, side of the airstrip. About 11 km North of the city 23 03.X.1995: 1♀ 20.X.1995. Pégnasso [11°28’N 05°38’W] 13 03.X.1997 ; 1♀ 05.XI.1996, about 17:00. Dandéresso [11°29’N 05°28’W] 1♀ 04.X.1996. Kadiolo [10°33’N 05°46’W] 1♀ 22.X.1996. San [13°23’N 04°54’W] 1♀ 07.X.1996, attracted to light, around 22:00. Fana [12°46’N 06°57’W] 13 12.IX.1996, around 17:30. Sébékoro [12°58’N 08°59’W] 24.IX.1996. Zalogosso [12°44’N 05°02’W] 13 17.IX.1996 (All in coll. CIRAD-CBGP).

Additional material examined (7 3, 17 ♀♀). BURKINA FASO Bobo-Dioulasso 33 4♀♀ 06.X.2009 ; 23 29.X.2009. Dédougou Bladi [15°27N 03°28’E] 1♀ 09.XI.2009 ; 6♀♀ 11.XI.2009. Koumbia 1♀ 12.XI.2009, fallow, East of the Forest of the Mou. Farako-Bâ 1♀ 18.X.1994, attracted to light, J.-C. Streito leg. ; Kiéré [11°37’N 02°32’W] 3♀♀ 22.X.1994, attracted to light, J.-C. Streito leg. W National Parc 13 04.X.2002, Cliffs of Tambaga [11°41’N 01°52’E] J. Bouyer leg. GUINEA Bareng [11°10’N 12°31’W] 1♀ 25.XI.1995, on weed, G. Delvare leg. CAMEROON Rhumsiki [10.5° N 13.6° E] 13 30.IX.1998, tree savanna J.C. Streito leg.

Etymology: From the Latin adjective ruber = red, referring to the reddish coloration of some individuals, particularly males.

Ecology. Species living in grass and tree savannas. In southern Mali adults fly at the end of the rainy season, from early September to early November.

Distribution. Widely distributed from Guinea to North Cameroon.

Figures

FIGURES 64 – 72. Neuroleon ruber, nov. sp. 64 — Habitus of male holotype. 65 — Right wings of female. 66 — Face. 67 — Vertex and pronotum. 68 — Lateral view of thorax. 69 — Hind leg. 70 — Right view of male ectoproct and genitalia. 71 — Ventral view of male genitalia. 72 — Right view of female terminalia.