Distoleon tappa ( Walker, 1853 )

Hassan, Muhammad Asghar, Zheng, Yuchen & Liu, Xingyue, 2020, Taxonomic notes on the antlion genus Distoleon Banks (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) from Pakistan, Zootaxa 4869 (3), pp. 347-368 : 354-359

Distoleon tappa ( Walker, 1853)

( Figs 5B , 7 A–B, 8A–C, 9A–B, 10A–C, 11A–D, 17A, 18A, 19B)

Myrmeleon tappa Walker, 1853: 364 . Type locality: Nepal.

Myrmecaelurus tappa: Hagen, 1860: 367 .

Formicaleo tappa: McLachlan, 1868: 278 .

Distoleon tappa: Stange, 2004: 162 .

Diagnosis. This species resembles Distoleon verendus but can be distinguished by the narrow median and lateral yellow stripes on thorax ( Figs 8A, C ), the presence of black stripe below antennal toruli ( Fig. 8B ), and the lack of cubital marking on forewing ( Figs 9 A–B). Moreover, the male sternum 9 is nearly quadrate in ventral view, without deep incision on the posterior median margin ( Fig. 11D ).

Measurement (♂ n=6, ♀ n=3; unit mm). Forewing: ♂ length 30.1–33.5, width 7.7–9.3, ♀ length 36.5–39.5, width 9.8–10.5; hind wing: ♂ length 30.5–33.5, width 6.4–7.7, ♀ length 38.0–38.5, width 8.1–8.2; body length: ♂ 27.0–29.5, ♀ 28.0–29.7.

Re-description. Head. Face yellow with a black stripe around the base of antennal toruli; interantennal marking indistinct, yellowish, without setae; frons yellow, covered with short yellow setae ( Fig. 8B ). Vertex raised, dark brown, with a longitudinal median yellow stripe that is interrupted at middle, covered with short brown setae. Occiput with crown-shaped yellow marking ( Fig. 8C ). Antennae longer than length of head and prothorax combined; clavate; toruli yellow; scape and pedicel yellow but brownish at base; flagellomeres annulated with brown and pinkish rings, covered with short black setae ( Figs 8B , 10C ). Maxillary and labial palps, labrum, clypeus, gena and face yellow; labrum with brown, erect setae; clypeus with long yellowish brown and black setae. Labial palpi with distal palpomere spindle-shaped with an acute apex, palpimacula brownish, small and circular, with proximal half slightly narrow ( Figs 5B , 8B ).

Thorax. Brownish black ( Fig. 8A ). Pronotum narrow, slightly broader than long, with a median and lateral yellow stripes, lateral stripes not reaching to posterior margins; anterolateral margin yellowish; pronotum not wholly covered with short black setae, bare after transverse suture between lateral yellow stripes; anterolateral margins with thin fine and short black setae, lateral margins with a few long black and white setae, posterolateral margin with black setae. Mesonotum brownish black, with a narrow median yellow stripe that is indistinct at prescutum; anterolateral margins of prescutum with a linear yellow stripe, covered with short black, and white setae; posterolateral margins of mesoscutum yellowish brown with long white setae, posteromedially and above wing base with two yellow spots; posterior margin of mesoscutum yellowish brown with long white setae. Metanotum dark brown with a distinct median yellow strip on metascutum; metascutellum medially and posterior margin yellowish brown, posterior margin covered with long white setae. Thoracic pleurites dark brown, covered with long white setae ( Fig. 5B ).

Legs. Foreleg. Coxa yellow, brownish black ventrally with a narrow yellow stripe, covered with yellow setae. Trochanter yellow. Femur yellow, posterodorsally dark brown, covered mostly with short, white setae and a few long, black setae, femoral sense hair longer than fore femora. Tibia yellow with dispersed black dots at setal bases, dorsally with three black rings, covered with black and white setae, tibial spurs curved, as long as tarsomeres 1–4. Tarsomeres yellow, tarsomeres 1–3 brownish apically, last tarsal segment as long as tarsomeres 1–4, black apically. Middle leg. Coxa yellow, brownish at base, covered with long yellow setae. Trochanter yellowish. Femora yellow with mixed black and white setae, femoral sense hair longer than fore femora. Tibia yellow with black dots at setal bases, dorsally with three black rings, covered with black and white setae, tibial spurs curved, as long as tarsomeres 1–4. Hind leg similar to mid leg except last tarsal segment as long as tarsomeres 1–3 and tibia without dorsal black rings ( Fig. 5B ).

Wings. Relatively broad, subacute at apex, membrane hyaline, longitudinal veins with alternate sections of black with many yellow stripes, bearing short black sparse setae; distal part and posterior margin of both wings with forked veins, base of each fork at distal region brownish. Forewing with 7–8 presectoral crossveins; Rs diverged from R beyond cubital fork; Rs with 13–14 branches; pterostigma pinkish; cubital mark indistinct. Hind wing with one presectoral crossvein; Rs diverged from R beyond cubital fork; Rs with 15 branches; pterostigma pinkish; cubital mark indistinct; distal part of hind wing in female with an oblong brown marking at marginal fork of MP1 ( Figs 9 A–B).

Abdomen. Pale brown, covered with short black and white setae. Male genitalia ( Figs 11 C–D): Tergum 9 quadrate; sternum 9 nearly quadrate, slightly wider at lateral margins, covered with long black and a few short white setae; ectoproct oval, ventrolaterally elongated, covered with black setae becoming much longer ventrally, white setae along lateral margins. Female genitalia ( Figs 11 A–B): Tergum 8 quadrate; gonocoxite 8 distinct, digitiform, covered with long black setae; tergum 9 ovate; gonocoxite 9 club-shaped, covered with short hair-like setae and robust digging setae; ectoproct round, covered with digging setae.

Material examined. PAKISTAN. Azad Jammu and Kashmir state: 8♂, 8♀, District Poonch, Khai Gala, [33°51’4.32612” N, 73°49’46.34681” E], 1757 m, 4.ix.2019, leg. M.A. Hassan ( CAU) , 7♂, 4♀, District Haveli , Farwad Kahuta, [33°53’03.74” N, 74°06’11.85” E], 1353 m, 5.viii.2019, leg. A. Mateen ( CAU) ; Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province : 2♂, 1♀, District Mansehra, Pakistan Forest Institute ( PFI) Filed Station , Shinkiari, [33°28’58.41102” N, 73°17’37.43297” E], 1334 m, 19.viii.2019, leg. R. Hussain ( PMNH) , 1♀, District Swat , [35.054092°N, 72.564847°E], 760 m, 11.ix.2019, leg. Fazullah ( CAU) .

Distribution. Nepal ( Walker 1853); Pakistan: Azad Jammu and Kashmir state and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Lateral view of Distoleon species. A. D. sambalpurensis; B. D. tappa; C. D. verendus. Scale bar: 2.0 mm.

FIGURE 7. Distoleon tappa Walker. A. Male habitus; B. Female habitus. Scale bar: 5.0 mm.

FIGURE 8. Distoleon tappa Walker. A. Thorax, dorsal view; B. Face; C. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. Scale bar: 1.0 mm (A); 0.5 mm (B, C).

FIGURE 9. Distoleon tappa Walker. A. Male right wing; B. Female right wing. Scale bar: 2.0 mm.

FIGURE 10. Distoleon tappa Walker. A. Right hind leg; B. Right foreleg; C. Antenna. Scale bar: 0.5 mm (A, B).

FIGURE 11. Distoleon tappa Walker. A. Female genitalia, lateral view, B. Same, ventral view; C. Male genitalia, lateral view, D. Same, ventral view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm (A, B, C); 0.25 mm (D).