Myrmeleon punctinervis Banks, 1937

Lin, Yu-Hsiu, Liao, Jhih-Rong & Ko, Chiun-Cheng, 2021, Fig. 5 in Periclimenaeus karantina Park & De Grave 2021, sp. nov., Zoological Studies 60 (39), pp. 1-24 : 17-19

Myrmeleon punctinervis Banks, 1937 ( Figs. 3G , 4G , 12 )

Description of 3rd instar larva: Size: Average body length 8.27 mm (6.97–9.65); head length 1.89 mm (1.76–2.02), head width 1.47 mm (1.35–1.54), mandible length 2.04 mm (1.86–2.11), ratio head width/length 0.77, ratio mandible length/head length 1.08.

General coloring: Pale ochre, with greyish body markings.

Head: Sub-rectangular, longer than wide. Covered with short, black setae, ventral side setae sparse. Ocular tubercle sessile. Mandibles pale brown with apex reddish, as long as the head capsule, provided with 3 equidistant teeth with the apical tooth slightly stronger. Interdental mandibular setae: (4–9)(2–3) (2–3)(1). Clypeo-labrum with pointed setae. External margin of the mandible with a fringe of long setae, dorsal side of the mandible with a row of short setae along the external margin, ventral side of the mandible with a sparse covering of setae external to the maxilla, reaching the basal tooth. Labial palpus 4-articulated, with fringe of black setae underneath, few extending over labial palpus. Dorsal side of the head capsule with the clypeo-labrum dark brown, the anterior side with a pair of dark brown spots, followed by a pair of brown triangular markings, reaching the brown markings on the lateral margins. Lateral side of the head with a dark brown spot on the dorsal-posterior side. Ventral side of the head with a pair of brown outwardly curved stripes in the middle.

Thorax: Pronotum with a pair of broad brown stripes, covered with short setae. Body setae black.

Legs: Pale brown, unspotted.

Abdomen: Setae black, covered with pale brown setae on the ventral side. VIII abdominal sternite with a pair of pale brown trapezoid bands, odontoid processes distinct, posterior margin with short, pointed setae. IX abdominal sternite with a median row of 4 pointed digging setae, irregularly interspersed with short digging setae. Rastra sessile, each bearing 4 (occasionally 5) pointed, peg-like digging setae, of which the external one is the longest.

Materials examined: Taiwan. Kinmen County. Kinmen County Forest Affair Place, Jinsha Township / 02. IX. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L2, 2 L3, 1 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Qingnian Farm, Jinhu Township / 02. IX. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Tongan Wharf, Jincheng Township / 12. VII. 2020 / K. T. Lin leg., 1 L3. Miaoli County. Qiding Beach, Zhunan Township / 08. XI. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 3 L3; same locality / 04. V. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 2 L3, 4 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Tongxiao Beach, Tongxiao Township / 04. V. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 5 L3, 2 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Nantou County. Qiedongkeng, Zhushan Township / 27. XI. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3. New Taipei City. Linkou Canyon, Linkou District / 08. XI. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3, 2 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Shalun Seaside Resort, Tamsui District / 30. I. 2019 / K. W. Chan leg., 2 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Taoyuan City. Zhuwei Beach, Dayuan District / 14. VI. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 2 L3, 2 L3 laboratory reared to adult.

Bio-ecology: The larvae of M. punctinervis build pitfall in open environments, and they can be collected on sand dunes, near escarpments, beside artificial buildings, and also on river banks. The larvae of M. punctinervis may co-habitat with larvae of M. persimilis or M. littoralis . Capability of moving forward and backward was observed by Stange et al. (2003) and our personal observations.

Distribution: Endemic to Taiwan. This species is found on beaches along the western coast and the surrounding islands— Kinmen, also recorded in inland river banks.

Remarks: The larvae of M. punctinervis are similar to those of M. taiwanensis in dorsal head markings and pointed IX abdominal sternite digging setae, and they are also similar to M. bimaculatus in ventral head markings. The ventral head markings may vary in width or shape.

Miller et al. (1999) mentioned that a species complex may exist in this species, and Stange et al. (2003) also pointed out that the larvae of this species show different movement patterns from different localities, in which one can move forward while the other cannot, the species complex and behavior difference requires more specimens for confirmation.

Figures

Fig. 3. Head of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini of Taiwan, ventral view; A, Baliga asakurae; B, Myrmeleon alticolus; C, Myrmeleon bimaculatus; D, Myrmeleon heppneri; E, Myrmeleon littoralis; F, Myrmeleon persimilis; G, Myrmeleon punctinervis; H, Myrmeleon taiwanensis; I, Myrmeleon wangi. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. IX abdominal sternite of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini of Taiwan, ventral view; A, Baliga asakurae; B, Myrmeleon alticolus; C, Myrmeleon bimaculatus; D, Myrmeleon heppneri; E, Myrmeleon littoralis; F, Myrmeleon persimilis; G, Myrmeleon punctinervis; H, Myrmeleon taiwanensis; I, Myrmeleon wangi. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 12. Myrmeleon punctinervis Banks, 1937, 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.