Neuroleon Navás, 1909

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 : 34-36

Neuroleon Navás, 1909

= Nelees Navás, 1912

= Klapalekus Navás, 1912

= Oligoleon Esben-Petersen, 1913

Redescription of the genus Neuroleon . The genus Neuroleon exhibits synapomorphies that characterize the tribe Nemoleontini . In the forewing CuP originates at the extremity of BC and A2 runs close to A1 for short distance, and then bends at sharp angle toward A3. In the hind wing CuA does not reach MP2, but may or may not be connected to it by crossveins. There is only one PS ( Figs 2, 3 ). Among Nemoleontini , the genus Neuroleon can be characterized by the following features. In the forewing the branches of CF diverge. Tibial spurs are absent or at most as long as tarsomeres 1–3 in the foreleg, and at most as long as tarsomeres 1–2 in the middle and hind legs. They are generally slender and slightly bent. Legs slender. For the West African species the ratio “length of posterior tibia/length of first tarsomere” is between 4 and 5.3. The same ratio varies from 5 to 6.2 in the West Palearctic species. The apical margin of the ventral surface of at least tarsomeres 2–4 with a row of stout black setae on each side ( Fig. 52 ). Generally the ventral surface bears other stout setae. Tarsal claws without tooth, capable of closing against distal tarsomere in two species. Ectoproct of male rounded without postventral lobe. Parameres hook-shaped. Gonosaccus with at least 4 long setae ( Figs 10, 11 ). In the female anterior gonapophyses are absent ( Fig. 12 ).

The genus Neuroleon can be separated from the genera Nemoleon Navás and Distoleon Banks as follows. In Nemoleon the apical margin of tarsomeres 2–4 bears only one stout seta and the distal tarsomere has two longitudinal rows of stout black setae, the other setae being very thin and slender. Ectoprocts of males have variably developed postventral lobes. In the West African species of Nemoleon the ratio “length of posterior tibia/ length of first tarsomere” is between 2.5 and 3.5. The gonosaccus has two long black setae on each side.

In Distoleon the tibial spurs are as long as tarsomeres 1–4 in the forelegs and as long as tarsomeres 1–3 in the middle and hind legs. They are generally stout and strongly arched. In males, the abdominal intersegmental membrane, at least between tergites VI and VII, bears a tubercle with generally two or three long bristles. These setae are present in all the African species of Distoleon examined and are mentioned for Australian species by New (1985). They are absent in the Palearctic and African species of Neuroleon examined.

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 3. Wing venation of Nemoleontini. 2 — Base of forewing. 3 — Base of hind wing. (A 1, A 2, A 3: anal 1, 2, 3. BC: basal crossvein. C: costa. CuA: anterior cubitus. CuF: cubitus fork. CuP: posterior cubitus. M: median. MA: anterior median. MP: posterior median. MP 1: anterior branch of MP. MP 2: posterior branch of MP. PS: presectorial crossvein. R: radius. RS: radial sector. SC: subcosta).

FIGURES 46 – 56. Neuroleon rapax, nov. sp. 46 — Habitus female of holotype. 47 — Habitus of male. 48 — Face. 49 — Vertex and thorax. 50 — Right foreleg. 51 — Right hind leg. 52 — Ventral view of tibial spurs and tarsomeres 1 – 3 of foreleg. 53 — Base of abdomen. 54 — Left view of male genitalia. 55 — Ventral view of male genitalia. 56 — Right view of female terminalia. (s = tuft of long setae)

FIGURES 4 – 12. Neuroleon drosimus Navás. 4 — Habitus of male. 5 — Thorax and right wings of female. 6 — Face. 7 — Vertex and pronotum. 8 — Hind leg of female. 9 — Hind leg of male. 10 — Right view of male ectoproct and genitalia. 11. Ventral view of male subgenital plate and genitalia. 12 — Female terminalia. (af: apical field. cm: cubital mark. e: ectoprocts. g: gonarcus. gp: gonapophyseal plate. gs: gonosaccus. lg: lateral gonapophyse. p: paramere. pg: posterior gonapophyse. rm: rhegmal mark. sp: subgenital plate).