Neuroleon raptor 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 : 46-47

Neuroleon raptor Michel & Akoudjin , nov. sp.

( Figs. 57–63 )

Diagnosis. Tarsal claws capable of closing against the last tarsomere. This species can be differentiated from the preceding by the absence of tibial spurs ( Figs 60, 61 ).

Description. Head. Face yellowish with two brown markings under base of antennae, and a median longitudinal black line. Black above antennae. Vertex with rows of brown markings ( Figs 58, 59 ). Thorax. Pronotum yellowish with two triangular brown markings on anterior lobe and two longitudinal brown lines on posterior lobe. Bordered with brown. Meso and metathorax yellowish and brown ( Fig. 58 ). Wings. Forewing 3 19 mm. Hind wing 3 19 mm. Membrane hyaline. Forewing. Holotype with no crossveins in the left apical field and one in the right. Some crossveins dark. Longitudinal veins dark at junctions with crossveins. Hind wing. Terminal forks of longitudinal veins dark along the hind margin in apical third ( Fig 57 ). Legs. Tarsal claws capable of closing against last tarsomere. Foreleg ( Fig. 60 ). Femur yellow, brown dorsally. Tibia with a brown ring at the basal third and brown apically. Basal tarsomere longer than distal tarsomere. Setae on ventral surface of tarsomeres 1–4 short. Setae of ventral brush of distal tarsomere tapered, not bend apically. Middle leg. Femur with sub-basal brown ring. Tibia with an incomplete brown ring at basal third. Basal tarsomere as long as distal tarsomere. Hind leg ( Fig. 61 ). Femur with an incomplete brown ring at basal third, without stout setae. Sensory femoral seta short. Tibial spurs absent. Claws long, slender ( Fig. 60, 61 ). Abdomen ( Figs 58, 59 ). Brown. Tergites III–VII with a yellow triangle on each side and narrow median basal line on segments III–IV. The lateral yellow markings are jointed dorsally on the following segments. Sternites yellow with a brown dot. Male. Ectoprocts rounded. Parameres hook-shaped, elongated. Gonosaccus with five to six long setae on each side ( Figs 62, 63 ). Gonarcus U shaped. Female. Unknown.

Type material examined. Holotype 3 BURKINA FASO Koumbia [11°14’N 03°41’W] 03.I.2010, 14:54, East side of the Forest of the Mou , M. Akoudjin leg (Coll. CIRAD-CBGP).

Etymology. From the Latin name raptor = ravisher. Referring to the grasping legs.

Ecology. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Burkina Faso.

Figures

FIGURES 57 – 63. Neuroleon raptor, nov. sp. 57 — Habitus of male holotype. 58 — Dorsal view of forebody. 59 — Ventral view of forebody. 60 — Right foreleg. 61 — Right hind leg and tarsal claw folded. 62 — Left view of male genitalia. 63 — Ventral view of male genitalia.