Megagonoleon newi Machado, 2020

Machado, Renato Jose Pires & Oswald, John David, 2020, Morphological phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the former antlion subtribe Periclystina (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Dendroleontinae), Zootaxa 4796 (1), pp. 1-322 : 219-221

Megagonoleon newi Machado , new species

( Figs. 110–112 )

http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ 04EF7B2B-11AC-4FE1-8D65-9B585283651F

Diagnosis. Frons mostly pale; hind wing rhegmal spot small; pronotum with posterior margin as wide as anterior margin; female ectoproct with cavisetae; male paramere with apex evenly curved in ventral view.

Description. Lengths: forewing: 21–24 mm; hind wing: 20–22 mm.

Head ( Figs. 111 a–b): Labrum pale; set with a line of elongate setae. Clypeus pale; set with few elongate black setae. Frons predominantly pale with two dark brown small curved marks around antennal base; set with short pale setae. Gena pale. Vertex raised; in anterior view mostly pale with two small transverse dark brown marks laterally, and a small medial line; in dorsal view mostly pale with a central longitudinal dark brown line, three marks on posterior border, and some irregular brown marks on central region; set with short black setae. Ocular setae absent. Antennae clubbed; elongate, about twice longer than pronotum; distance between antennae wider than scape width; all segments with anterior surface pale but posterior brown (some specimens distal flagellomeres entirely brown); torular membrane pale; flagellomeres almost as long as wide at base, apical ones much wider than long; scape and pedicel covered with short white setae, flagellomere set with short black setae. Mandibles mostly pale, with tip black. Palpi, maxillary and labial pale with dark brown marks on each basal segment and around palpimacula; apical labial palpomere fusiform, palpimacula opening oval-shaped, located medially.

Thorax ( Fig. 111b ): Pronotum longer than wide; posterior margin as wide as anterior; subapical furrow present; mostly pale except for some dark brown marks, a central longitudinal on posterior half, two small marks at midline in anterior area, two curved longitudinal lines near center (separated medially in some specimens), and small dark spots on setal bases; beset with short black setae and some long black and white setae. Mesonotum mostly pale, with some dark brown areas distributed on segments as follows: prescutum with two longitudinal lines around center, scutum with a medial line and three thin longitudinal lines on each side (lines closer to the center line generally connected to the prescutum lines), border between scutum and scutellum, and scutellum with a thin medial line and two rounded spots posteriorly; covered with short black setae, except for few long black setae on prescutum. Metanotum pale, with some dark brown areas as follows: two curved marks around medial area on prescutum, a large rectangular mark at the center of metathorax, a large longitudinal lateral line on each side of scutum, anterior border and midline of scutellum. Pterothoracic pleura mostly pale with scattered dark brown areas around margins of sclerites; covered with white setae; Miller’s organ present.

Wings ( Fig. 111d ): Fairly broad, anterior Banksian line present in both wings, posterior absent. Veins mostly pale, but some veins intercalated with brown spots, beset with short black setae. Male pilula axillaris present. Forewing membrane hyaline with small amber marks (almost indistinguishable in some specimens) on rhegmal area, surrounding some crossveins, and tip of prefork area; pterostigma light brown with apex white; CuA fork located between RP origin and first fork; three presectoral crossveins; subcostal veinlets simple; posterior area about as wide as prefork area. Hind wing membrane colour hyaline, with only a very small rhegmal amber mark present in some specimens; MP fork located near RP origin; subcostal veinlets simple; one presectoral crossvein.

Legs ( Figs. 111 a–b): All pairs of legs, femur elongate (> 3.5x length of coxa); tibia and femur about same size, but longer than tarsi; tibial spurs extending over T1 apex; T2, T3 and T4 about same size, T1 slightly longer than T2, T5 twice longer than T1; claws about half of T5 length; coxa, trochanter and femur set with many short white setae, femur, tibia and tarsi set whit short black setae and scattered long black setae; T5 ventrally with two rows of thick, long, black setae. Proleg sense hair absent; tibia with antennal cleaning setae ventroapically; coxa pale with some dark brown marks, trochanter pale, femur pale with tip and a subapical ring dark brown, tibia pale with three dark brown rings, tarsi pale with tip of T5 dark brown. Mesoleg with same colour of proleg. Metaleg with femur and tibia slightly longer than in other legs; colour same of other legs except for tibia tip dark brown.

Abdomen ( Fig. 111c ): Tergites 1 and 2 mostly pale, tergite 3 mostly dark brown with two pale rounded marks at base, remaining tergites with basal thirds pale but rest dark brown with scattered irregular pale marks mainly at central area. Sternites entirely pale, except for some dark brown marks, mainly at sternite 4 and 5, which are completely dark brown in few darker specimens. Beset with short white setae.

Male Terminalia ( Figs. 111c , 112 a–d): Ectoproct posterior margin rounded in lateral view; set with elongate black setae. 9 th sternite posterior margin with tip rounded and elongate, extending between ventral half of ectoprocts in posterior view; set with elongate black setae. Gonarcus simple, arched in posterior view, but “C” shaped in lateral view. Mediuncus in posterior view very broad with tip more sclerotized and rounded medially, in lateral view curved with tip slightly broader. Paramere in lateral view curved and covered with short black setae; in ventral view with external part rounded but internal thin, evenly curved, and apex acute.

Female Terminalia ( Figs. 112 e–f): Ectoproct posterior margin rounded set with thin elongate setae and some elongate cavisetae ventrally. Lateral gonapophyses with distal margin rounded, about same size as ectoproct, beset with elongate cavisetae. 9 th tergite in lateral view, with dorsal margin narrow, and set with some thickened setae on ventral area. 7 th sternite very long with distal margin straight, in ventral view; covered with black setae. Pregenital plate small and longitudinally elongate in ventral view, curved with a central acute extension in lateral view. Posterior gonapophyses thin, elongate, covered with black setae. 9 th tergite with a short membranous digitiform process. Anterior gonapophyses absent. Ventral membrane gonapophyseal plates present.

Distribution ( Fig. 110 ). Australia: NT, QLD, SA, WA. Widespread across mainland Australia; most records in the northern half.

Adult activity period. Records for August to December, and March to May; not recorded from the hottest summer months.

Biology. Unknown, larva unknown.

Etymology. newi (from the surname of Dr. Timothy R. NEW, Australian entomologist/neuropterist), in recognition of his immense contributions to the understanding of Australian Myrmeleontidae .

Name-bearing type. Megagonoleon newi : Holotype (by present designation), male, AMSA. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Broome : 5.Nov.1978, M.S. & B.J. Moulds, Australian Museum, K 427356. Condition: pinned; good; antennae missing.

Paratypes (7♂, 4♀). AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: Devil’s Marbles: 7mi N of Wauchope, UV light, 22 nd. Apr. 1966, N. McFarland, SAMA Database, No. 24-000055 (1♀, SAMA, pinned); Dingo Hole Dam : 30 km N Ammaroo Station, at light, 8.Oct.1977, G.F. Gross, J.A. Forrest, SAMA Database, No. 24-000099 (1♂, SAMA, pinned) ; Queensland: Clermont: Dr. K.K. Spence, Australian Museum, K 427360 (1♂, AMSA, pinned); Clermont: Dr. K.K. Spence, Australian Museum, K 427361 (1♂, AMSA, pinned); 8 km S of Clermont, 18.Mar.1982, M.S. & B.J. Moulds, Australian Museum, K 427357 (1♀, AMSA, pinned); Fox Creek : 27.9.1949, Black & Bearup, Aus- tralian Museum, K 427362 (1♂, AMSA, pinned); Fox Creek : 27.9.1949, Black & Bearup, Australian Museum, K 427363 (1♂, AMSA, pinned); Lawn Hill Creek : Adels Grove, W of Gregory Downs, 19.dec.1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds, Australian Museum, K 427359 (1♂, AMSA, pinned) ; Western Australia: 18.53S– 123.43E, 186 km SE by E Broome , 10.august.1976, I.F.B. Common (1♂, 1♀, ANIC, pinned); 50 km SW Sandfire flat, between Broome and Port Hedland, 29.Oct.1978, M.S. & B.J. Moulds, Australian Museum, K 427358 (1♀, AMSA) .

Additional material examined (16♂, 25♀). AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: Alice Springs : x.1977 (2♀, QMBA) ; Barrow Creek : 21 km SW, 21.40S– 133.45E, 12.x.1972, M.S. Upton (1♀, ANIC) ; Barry Caves : ix.1967 (1♂, MVM) ; Devil’s Marbles : 7mi N of Wauchope, 22.iv.1966, UV light, N. McFarland (1♀, SAMA) ; ix.1967 (1♀, MVM) ; Dingo Hole Dam : 30 km N Ammaroo Station, 8.x.1977, at light, G.F. Gross, J.A. Forrest (1♂, SAMA) ; Elliott : 8 km NWbyN, 17.29S– 133.30E, 14.x.1972, M.S. Upton (2♀, ANIC) ; Renner Springs : 2.8 mi S, 8.iv.1966 (1♀, SAMA) ; Smoke Hills Sanctuary: Tanami Desert , iv.1965, H Logger (1♀, SAMA) ; 6 mi N of Tennant Creek , 9.xi.1966, A. & R. Mesa (1♂, ANIC) ; Stuart Highway , 296 km S, 29.xi.1976, D.H. Colles (1♂, ANIC) ; 4 mi WSW of Victoria River Downs , 15.viii.1973, L.P. Kelsey (1♀, ANIC) ; 30 km N Wauchope , 20.22S– 134.14E, 13.x.1972, M.S. Upton (1♂, ANIC) ; Queensland: Gloncurry District : (2♀, MVM) ; 16 km SSW of Charleville , 26.35S– 146.11E, 14.iii.1990, E.D. Edwards & J.H. Fisk (1♀, ANIC) ; Darr River: 31 km NWbyN of Longreach , 23.13S– 144.04E, 22.x.1975, J.C. Cardale (1♀, ANIC) ; Mica Creek : 16.iii.2001 (1♂, 1♀, QMBA) ; Musselbrook Resource Centre: Lawn Hill National Park , 18 o 35’54’’S– 138 o 07’44’’E, 18.iv.1995, G. Daniels & MA Schneider (1♀, QMBA) ; Ridgepole Waterhole: 24 km ESE of Musselbrook Resource Center, Lawn Hill National Park , 18 o 40’15’’S– 138 o 22’15’’E, 8.v.1995, G Daniels & MA Schneider (1♂, QMBA) ; Riversleigh Homestead: Gregory River , 29.iv.1986 (1♀, SAMA) ; South Australia: Marree : 22.x.1972 (1♂, SAMA) ; Marree Picnic Ground : xi.1955 (1♂, SAMA) ; Western Australia: 186 km SE by E of Broome, 18.53S– 123.43E, 10.viii.1976, I.F.B. Common (3♂, 4♀, ANIC, 1♀, FSCA); 17 km NbyE of Cane River Homestead, 21.56S– 115.39E, 27.iv.1971, Upton & Mitchell (1♀, ANIC) ; Dalby : 28.viii.1953, Tindale (1♀, SAMA) ; Elvire Station: Halls Creek , 1968 (1♂, SAMA) ; Karijini National Park: Dale George Rd , 668m, 22 o 35.1’S– 118 o 27.2’E, 21.iv.2003, F.D. Parker & M.E. Irwin (1♂, FSCA) ; Liveringa : 1.ix.1953, Tindale (1♀, SAMA) ; ½ km W of Millstream Homestead , 21.38S– 117.04E, 21.iv.1971, Upton & Mittchell (1♂, ANIC) ; 21.35S– 117.04E, 28.x.1970, Upton & Feehan (1♂, ANIC) .

Comments. Megagonoleon newi sp. nov. is closely related to M. cahillensis ( Fig. 4 ), as discussed under the later species. Many M. newi specimens studied here were previously misidentified as Glenoleon aurora , which is superficially very similar. The two species, however, are easily separated on the basis of both male and female terminalia.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Strict consensus tree of morphology-based parsimony analysis of species belonging to the former subtribe Periclystina (ingroup, names in black), and outgroups (names in red). Former Glenoleon species are shown on blue branches, former Austrogymnocnemia species on green branches. Numbers above branches are Bremer support values; numbers below branches are bootstrap values (shown where>50%).

FIGURE 110. Distribution of Megagonoleon species (part).

FIGURE 111. Megagonoleon newi sp. nov.: a) head, anterior; b) head and thorax, dorsal; c) male terminalia, posterolateral; d) wings, dorsal.

FIGURE 112. Megagonoleon newi sp. nov.: male: a) terminalia, lateral; b) genitalia, lateral; c) genitalia, posterior; d) genitalia, ventral; female: e) terminalia, lateral; f) 7th sternite and pregenital plate, ventral. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.