Cueta sauteri (Esben-Petersen, 1913)

Zhang, Jie, Zhang, Xubo & Wang, Xinli, 2013, Larvae of Cueta sauteri (Esben-Petersen) and Myrmeleon bore (Tjeder) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae): description and behavioral notes, Zootaxa 3734 (3), pp. 362-370 : 363

Cueta sauteri (Esben-Petersen, 1913) ( Figs. 1, 2 )

Size: body length (including mandibles) 15.0–16.0 mm, body width (widest part) 5.7 –6.0 mm, head length (without mandibles) 1.8–1.9 mm, head width (widest part) 1.9–2.0 mm, length of the mandibles 2.0–2.1 mm.

Head: yellowish brown. Head capsule approximately square, posterior margin of the head arc-shaped. The dorsal side of head capsule with numerous bristles, a pair of oblique dark stripes near posterior margin, another pair of oblique dark stripes in anterior part (Fig. 5). Ventral side of head bare, with a pair of oblique convergent dark brown stripes near anterior margin, close to each other posteriorly and far separated anteriorly (Fig. 6). Mandible yellowish brown and dark brown at the apex. Mandibular teeth yellowish brown with dark brown apex. Mandibular length almost equal to the length of head capsule, with three teeth; distal tooth shorter than middle tooth; distance between tooth 1 and 2 longer than distance between tooth 2 and 3; mandible without bristles between the third tooth and apex of the mandible, 1 bristle between tooth 3 and 2, 2–3 bristles between tooth 2 and 1; setae on external margin of mandible shorter than mandibular greatest width (Fig. 7). Antennae filiform, long and slender ( Fig. 15 ). Ocular tubercles prominent, dark brown, consists of seven dark brown or black stemmata, six stemmata on the dorsal side of ocellar tubercle and one on the ventral side ( Figs. 15 , 16). No bristle is among stemmata. Labial palpi pale, longer than basal width of mandible, four segmented, the third article slightly longer than the second ( Fig. 11 ).

Thorax: trapezoid, prothorax is the narrowest segment. Tergites yellowish brown with scarce dark spots and sparse bristles, sternites yellowish white ( Fig. 19 ). Dorsal side of thorax without punctum; lateral scoli no distinctly prominent, with tufts of bristles; mesothoracic spiracle with elongated peduncles (Figs. 17, 19).

Abdomen: 10-segmented, the 10th segment invaginated. Tergites yellowish brown and sternum yellow white. No evident lateral scoli; each segment with a dorsal pair of dark brown to black spots, ventral side yellow to white with some black spots ( Figs. 1, 2 ); sternite VIII with a pair of conspicuous brown teeth and some stout setae at posterior margin ( Fig. 20 ); sternite IX with two rows of lateral long bristles (anterior row 6 bristles, posterior row 6 bristles), coniform digging bristles in 4 rows (2, 2, 2, 8) ( Figs. 20, 21 ).

Examined material. 3 larvae, Ledong, Hainan Province, China (18° 45’ N, 109° 10’ E), XI. 2007, Zhi-Liang Wang (CAU0015–CAU0017). All the specimens were deposited in ICCAU.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2, 5 – 7. Third instar larva of Cueta sauteri. 1. Dorsal view. 2. Ventral view. 5. Head, dorsal view. 6. Head, ventral view. 7. Mandible, dorsal view. FIGURES 3 – 4, 8 – 10. Third instar larva of Myrmeleon bore. 3. Dorsal view. 4. Ventral view. 8. Head, dorsal view. 9. Head, ventral view. 10. Mandible, dorsal view.

FIGURES 11, 15 – 17. Third instar larva of Cueta sauteri. 11. Labial palpi. 15. Antennae and ocular tubercle (dorsal view). 16. Ocular tubercle (ventral view). 17. Mesothoracic spiracles. FIGURES 12 – 14, 18. Third instar larva of Myrmeleon bore. 12. Labial palpi. 13. Antennae and ocular tubercle (dorsal view). 14. Ocular tubercle (ventral view). 18. Mesothoracic spiracles.

FIGURES 19 – 21. Third instar larva of Cueta sauteri. 19. Thorax, dorsal view. 20. Sternite VIII, ventral view. 21. Digging bristles. FIGURES 22 – 24. Third instar larva of Myrmeleon bore. 22. Thorax, dorsal view. 23. Sternite VIII, ventral view. 24. Digging bristles.