Myrmeleon persimilis Miller and Stange, 1999

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 : 15-17

Myrmeleon persimilis Miller and Stange, 1999 ( Figs. 3F , 4F , 11 )

Description of 3rd instar larva: Size: Average body length 7.79 mm (6.51–9.31); head length 1.81 mm (1.63–1.96), head width 1.52 mm (1.42–1.60), mandible length 1.87 mm (1.78–1.97), ratio head width/length 0.84, ratio mandible length/head length 1.03.

General coloring: Pale ochre, with greyish body markings.

Head: Sub-rectangular, longer than wide. Densely covered with short, black setae, ventral side with short, brown setae interspersed. Ocular tubercle sessile. Mandibles thick, 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: (5–8)(2–5)(2–3)(1–2). 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 without setae. Labial palpus 4-articulated, with fringe of black setae underneath, few extending over labial palpus. Dorsal side of the head capsule with dark markings on the clypeo-labrum, anterior side with a pair dark brown spots followed by a pair of pale brown spots, posterior side with a pair of small dark brown markings, lateral margins with pale brown bands. Lateral side of the head without markings. Ventral side of the head with a pair of anterior brown spots.

Thorax: Pronotum with a pair of pale 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 markings, odontoid processes reduced, posterior margin with several stout black setae and pale brown (sometimes dark) filiform setae. IX abdominal sternite with irregularly dispersed stout digging setae. Rastra sessile, each bearing 3 stout, peg-like digging setae equal in size, 1 seta on the external side.

Materials examined: Taiwan. Kinmen County. Kinmen County Agriculture Research Institute Recreation Farm, Jinhu Township / 02. IX. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L2. Liaoluo Beach, Jinhu Township / 04. IX. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 3 L3. Qingnian Farm, Jinhu Township / 02. IX. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3. Shuangkou Beach, Lieyu Township / 03. IX. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3. Zhaishan, Jinchen Township / 03. IX. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3. Miaoli County. Qiding Seaside Park, Zhunan Township / 08. XI. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 4 L3. Tongxiao Beach, Tongxiao Township / 04. V. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 10 L3, 2 L3 laboratory reared to adult. New Taipei City. Fulong seaside park, Gongliao District / 07. VI. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 2 L3, 2 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Laomei, Shimeng District / 04. VIII. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 2 L2, 1 L3. Longmeng Camping Ground, Gongliao district / 15. XII. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 3 L3. Longmeng Beach, Gongliao district / 15. XII. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 4 L3. Shalun Seaside Resort, Tamsui District / 30. I. 2019 / K. W. Chan leg., 1 L3 laboratory reared to adult; same locality / 18. V. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 3 L3; same locality / 03. IX. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 5 L3, 1 L3 laboratory reared to adult; same locality / 13. X. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 6 L3. Wazihwei Beach, Bali District / 11. IX. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3. Penghu County. Aimen Beach, Huxi Township / 16. I. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 3 L3, 1 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Chikan Beach, Baisha Township / 13. I. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 3 L3. Houliao Beach, Baisha Township / 13. I. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 10 L3, 2 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Lintou Park, Huxi Township / 13. I. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 4 L3, 1 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Lizhengjiao Beach, Huxi Township / 16. I. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 4 L3, 2 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Qitou Beach, Baisha Township / 13. I. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 4 L3. Shanshui Beach, Magong City / 16. I. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 5 L3. Shili Beach, Magong City / 13. I. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 5 L3, 1 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Pingtung County. Dawan Beach, Hengchun Township / 03. II. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Fengchuisha beach, Hengchun Township / 12. II. 2019 / K. W. Chan leg., 1 L3 laboratory reared to adult; same locality / 03. II. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 6 L3. Jiupeng Desert, Manzhou Township / 04. II. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Taoyuan City. Yongan Seaside Park, Xinwu District / 08. XI. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 2 L3.

Bio-ecology: M. persimilis is a common species in Taiwan, and can be collected in most of the sandy beaches around Taiwan, except in the eastern coast. The larvae build pitfall on open sand dunes, especially on downwind slopes ( Fig. 1B ). The larvae of M. persimilis may co-habitat with those of M. punctinervis .

The behavior of flexibly switching between building pitfall traps and ambush foraging strategies were observed in the larvae of this species ( Tsao and Okuyama 2012).

Distribution: Endemic to Taiwan. M. persimilis is found on beaches along the western shore, also in the surrounding islands— Penghu and Kinmen.

Remarks: The larvae of M. persimilis resembles M. heppneri in the arrangement of digging setae on IX abdominal sternite and the absence of setae on the ventral side of the mandibles, the two can be distinguished by the markings on head capsule.

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. 11. Myrmeleon persimilis Miller and Stange, 1999, 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

Fig. 1. Habitats of the Myrmeleontini larvae, A, Underneath trunks of giant woods (M. alticolus). B, On open sand dunes (M. persimilis). C, Underneath rock overhangs (M. taiwanensis). D, Underneath artificial buildings (M. wangi).