Myrmeleon littoralis, Miller & Stange, 1999

Lin, Yu-Hsiu Hugh, Ko, Chiun-Cheng & Tseng, Hui-Yun, 2024, Taxonomic revision of the antlion tribe Myrmeleontini (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) of Taiwan, European Journal of Taxonomy 969, pp. 1-61 : 21-22

Myrmeleon littoralis group

Diagnosis

The M. littoralis group is characterized by the hindwing longer than the forewing; hindwing RP at origin runs equidistant to RA and MA; male genitalia with gonarcus narrow, arched, mediuncus weakly sclerotized, parameres well sclerotized, hooked in lateral view.

Included species

Myrmeleon littoralis Miller & Stange, 1999 .

Possible candidate: Baliga kashimirensis Hassan et al., 2022 (see below).

Remarks

Several characters of the sole species of this group, including longer hindwings and the interconnected crossveins on the costal area ( Fig. 11C ), are similar to the species of Baliga , but remaining characters such as the overall morphology of the larvae (IX abdominal sternite with one or more row of digging setae) ( Lin et al. 2021: figs 3e, 4e, 10), and the male genitalia and female terminalia (female anterior gonapophyses about half length of posterior gonapophyses) ( Figs 12–13 ) suggest that this species group is distinct from Baliga . Hassan et al. (2022) described Baliga kashimirensis from Pakistan but based on the male genitalia and female terminalia, this species should belong to the M. littoralis group as well. Since we have not yet examined specimens of B. kashmirensis , taxonomic changes are not made here.

Figures

Fig. 11. Myrmeleon littoralis Miller & Stange, 1999 (NTU). A. Head, frontal view. B. Head and thorax, dorsal habitus. C. Wings.Abbreviations: A = anal veins; C = costa; Cu = cubitus; CuA = cubitus anterior; CuP = cubitus posterior; MA = media anterior; MP = media posterior; pB = posterior Banksian line; RA= radius anterior; RP = radius posterior; Sc = subcosta. Scale bars: A–B = 1.0 mm; C = 10.0 mm.

Fig. 12. Myrmeleon littoralis Miller & Stange, 1999(NTU). A. Female terminalia, lateral view. B. Same, ventral view. C. Male terminalia, lateral view. D. Same, ventral view. Abbreviations: ag = anterior gonapophysis; ect = ectoproct; lg = lateral gonapophysis; pg = posterior gonapophysis; S = sternites; T = tergites. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 13. Myrmeleon littoralis Miller & Stange, 1999, male genitalia (NTU). A. Lateral view. B. Ventral view. C. Caudal view. Abbreviations: gon = gonarcus; med = mediuncus; par = parameres. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.