Apertochrysa eurydera (Navás, 1910)

Insom, Emilio & Terzani, Fabio, 2024, Some Neuroptera of the Horn of Africa from the Museum of Zoology of the University of Rome “ La Sapienza ” (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae, Mantispidae, Ascalaphidae, Myrmeleontidae), Fragmenta entomologica 56 (1), pp. 39-52 : 40-42

Apertochrysa eurydera (Navás, 1910)

Chrysopa eurydera Navás, 1910: 43 (Od); Esben-Petersen, 1927: 447.

Chrysopa madegassa Navás, 1921: 69 (Od); Esben-Petersen, 1927: 447.

Chrysopa crassinervis Esben-Petersen, 1927: 452 (Od).

Chrysopa icterica Esben-Petersen, 1927: 450 (Od).

Apertochrysa eurydera : Hölzel & Ohm, 1992: 173; Ohm & Hölzel, 2002: 235; Hölzel, 2002: 131 (Ct).

Apertochrysa (alcestes) eurydera : Breitkreuz et al., 2021: 220 (Tax).

Specimens examined. Somalia: 1♀, (SO.11) Togdheer, Gahan Libah (1700 m), 9°52’N – 44°50’E, 17-18.V.1988, A. Vigna Taglianti leg.

The specimen ♀ examined is preserved in alcohol and appears to be a juvenile form because the cuticle is transparent. We give a description because, at present, we have not found any description or representation of the main morphological structures of the female of A. eurydera .

Description. Female ( Figs. 1 A-G). Small specimen. Triangular head; antennae light coloured; length of forewing 10.5 mm, length of hindwing 9.5 mm; width of forewing 3.5 mm, width of hindwing 3.5 mm.

Wings ( Fig. 1A ). Membrane hyaline; without spots or shadings, pterostigma poorly defined with three in- complete crossveins. Forewing: intramedian cell elongate; its tip just exceeds the first radio-medial crossvein. Radial crossveins straight. Radial sector as in Fig. 1A ; radius and subcosta are almost equal in length. Number of gradates are 3 inner series and 4 outers ones. The first gradata of the internal series does not meet the pseudomedia. Cubital cells: the 1 st is a little shorter of 2 nd. Hindwing: radial crossveins straight; Radial sector as in Fig. 1A ; radius and subcosta are almost equal in length. Number of gradates are 3 inner series and 5 outers ones. Legs. Femur and tibia without any trace of dark points or lines, tarsal segments slightly brownish. The hind tarsal claw as shown in Fig. 1D . Abdomen. Ectoprocts dorsally fused with a dorsal depression ( Fig. 1B ). Callus cerci with 31 trichobothria ( Fig. 1C ). Sternite 7 at apex right, its edge is membranous and it is covered by microthorns. Subgenital plate short, membranous part with a wide base, sclerotized part wider than long, bilobed apically with a rectangular notch ( Fig. 1G ). Spermatheca. Short; the vela is triangular in lateral view ( Fig. 1E ), ventral impression deep ( Fig. 1F ); short, loosely coiled duct.

Distribution – Afrotropical element (widespread, including Madagascar and western Indian Ocean islands) and South Africa.

MANTISPIDAE Leach, 1815

Mantispinae Leach, 1815

Figures

Fig. 1 – Apertochrysa eurydera (Navás, 1910) [♀]: A, Left fore- and hindwings; B, IX tergite and ectoprocts (dorsal view); C, Callus cerci; D, Claw hind leg; E, Spermatheca (lateral view; F, Id. (ventral view); G, Subgenital (ventral view). – [Scale bars: 5 mm (Fig. A); 0.2 mm (Figs B, E-G); 0.1 mm (Figs C-D)].