Baliga micans ( McLachlan, 1875 )

Kim, Jiseung, Ahn, Neung-Ho & Kim, Sora, 2025, A taxonomic review of the family Myrmeleontidae Latreille (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontiformia) from the Korean peninsula, highlighting the conservation value of this family, ZooKeys 1262, pp. 97-174 : 97-174

Baliga micans ( McLachlan, 1875)

Figs 5 , 6 , 35 B , 36 A , 37 A

Myrmeleon micans McLachlan, 1875: 176. Type locality: Japan: Yokohama.

Balaga micans ( McLachlan, 1875): Navás 1912 a: 111.

Hagenomyia micans ( McLachlan, 1875): Okamoto 1914: 250.

Baliga micans ( McLachlan, 1875): Stange 2004: 297.

Specimens examined.

[ JBNU] • 1 ♀, Oeseonmi-ri , Onjeong-myeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, 27. VII. 2022, J. S. Kim ; • 1 ♂, Oegok-ri , Toji-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea, 2. VII. 2023, J. S. Kim ; • 2 ♂, Samjung-ri , Macheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, 14. VII. 2023, H. Han ; • 1 ♀, Gilgok-ri , Maehwa-myeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, 20. VII. 2023, DB Choi ; • 1 ♂, Yulji-ri , Susan-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 30. VII. 2024, J. S. Kim ; • 1 ♂, Sindu-ri , Wonbuk-myeon, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, 31. VII. 2024, J. S. Kim ; • 4 ♂ 2 ♀, Gureom-ri , Deokjeok-myeon, Ongjin-gun, Incheon, Korea, 15. VIII. 2024, J. S. Kim ; • 1 ♀, Buchun-ri , Hwagae-myeon, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, 27. VIII. 2024, J. S. Kim ; • 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Gilgok-ri , Maehwa-myeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, 7. IX. 2024, J. S. Kim ; 1 larva (3 rd instar), Yongdu-dong , Buk-gu, Gwangju, Korea, 2. VII. 2023, J. S. Kim ; 1 larva (3 rd instar), Nogok-ri , Bongsan-myeon, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea; 28. VI. 2024, J. S. Kim ; 1 larva (2 nd instar), Namseo-ri , Seo-myeon, Ulleung-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, 11. VII. 2024, J. S. Kim ; • 4 larvae (3 rd instar), Hakbong-ri , Banpo-myeon, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea, 1. X. 2024, J. S. Kim ; • 3 larvae (2 nd instar), Deokjin-dong , Deokjin-gu, Jeonji-si, Jeonbuk-do, Korea, 4. X. 2024, J. S. Kim ; • 2 larvae (3 rd instar), Changwon-ri , Nam-myeon, Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea, 24. V. 2025, J. S. Kim .

Diagnosis.

Baliga micans is similar to B. ryukuensis Hayashi & Matsumoto, 2020 from southern Japan (Amami Island, Tokunoshima Island, Okinawa Island) in general appearance ( Hayashi et al. 2020). Compared to B. micans , the male of B. ryukyuensis has a larger sternite IX, an un-sclerotized dorsolateral edge, and more separated and sclerotized parameres. In females, B. ryukyuensis differs by having slightly shorter lateral gonapophyses ( Hayashi et al. 2020). It is easily distinguished from B. asakurae ( Okamoto, 1910) and B. kimurai Hayashi, 2020 by the size of the pterostigma and the color pattern on the pronotum ( Hayashi et al. 2020). In larvae, mandibles have three equidistant teeth with the apical tooth slightly stronger. Abdominal sternite IX is elongated and has 0–2 short digging setae in front of rastra.

Description.

Male, adult. Head (Fig. 5 B, C ). Vertex wide, strongly raised, black, with short black hairs. Frons black; clypeus yellow. Antenna black, slightly long, with slightly defined club, densely covered with short black hairs; flagellum comprising ~ 38 flagellomeres. Mouthparts yellowish brown; labrum yellowish brown, with hyaline brown hairs; maxillary palpus yellowish brown, 5 th maxillary palpomere dark brown; labial palpus yellowish brown, 3 rd labial palpomere tapering to acute apex.

Thorax (Fig. 5 C ). Pronotum broad, approximately as long as broad, dark brown, anterior margin yellow, with yellow longitudinal midline, moderately covered with black hairs. Mesonotum dark brown, with sparse yellow and black hairs. Metanotum dark brown, with pair of yellow spots at the middle, with sparse yellow hairs.

Legs. Yellow, short. Coxae yellow, moderately covered with long brown hairs. Femora yellowish brown, moderately covered with black setae. Tibiae yellowish brown, moderately covered with black setae. Tibial spurs reddish brown, short, almost straight, approximately as long as combined lengths of tarsomeres 1–3. Tarsi dark brown, tarsomere 5 approximately as long as combined lengths of tarsomeres 1–4; claws reddish brown.

Wings (Fig. 5 A ). Without markings. Forewings veins and crossveins mostly brown; presectoral area with 6–8 crossveins; RP arising opposite or slightly beyond CuA fork; CuP supporting one or two cells before fusing with 1 A; 3 A fused with 2 A; pterostigma yellowish white; anterior Banksian line absent, posterior Banksian line distinct. Hindwings approximately as long as forewings, narrower than forewings; presectoral area with 4–6 crossveins; RP arising opposite or slightly beyond MP fork; pterostigma yellowish white; anterior Banksian line absent, posterior Banksian line distinct; male with pilula axillaris.

Abdomen (Fig. 5 A ). Shorter than hindwing, dark brown, densely covered with brown hairs.

Genitalia (Fig. 5 D, E, H – K ). Ectoproct rectangular covered with long black setae. Sternite IX narrow, covered with long black setae. Gonarcus yellowish white, arched, with long lateral arms. Mediuncus well sclerotized, dark brown, moderately hooked in lateral view. Parameres well sclerotized, dark brown, triangular in ventral view.

Size. BL: 34.5–36.5 mm; FWL: 39.9–44.4 mm; HWL: 40.3–44.9 mm.

Female, adult. Except terminalia, generally similar to male. Pilula axillaris absent. Terminalia (Fig. 5 F, G ): tergite VIII wider than tergite IX; tergite IX narrow, oval in lateral view; ectoproct semicircular in lateral view; lateral gonapophyses rectangular in lateral view, slightly bigger than ectoproct, with long black setae; posterior gonapophyses long, slender, with long black setae; anterior gonapophyses long, with long black setae; pregenital plate distinct, semicircular, presented on posterior margin of sternite VII.

Size. BL: 34.5–36.5 mm; FWL: 39.9–44.4 mm; HWL: 40.3–44.9 mm.

Larva, 3 rd instar. General color yellowish brown, with dark brown markings (Fig. 6 A – C ). Head longer than wide, with an anterior pair of spots and a V-shaped dark brown marking on dorsal side, with two pairs of dark brown spots on ventral side, with three dark brown spots in lateral side; mandibles yellowish brown; interdental mandibular setae (6–10) (2–3) (2–3) (1); external setae long. Abdominal sternite VIII with sparse black setae (Fig. 6 D, E ). Abdominal sternite IX with 0–2 short digging setae in front of rastra; a paired rastra each with three or four digging setae (Fig. 6 F ).

Size. BL: 11.8 mm; HL: 2.6 mm; HW: 2.1 mm; ML: 3.4 mm.

Biological notes.

Baliga micans is a species that is commonly observed and is distributed throughout South Korea, including Ulleungdo Island (Fig. 37 A ). This species is primarily observed in areas characterized by mountainous topography but also collected in urban forests and in the vicinity of residential areas. Adults emerge from July to September in South Korea. Larvae are pit builders. They were collected in fine soil under tree bases, rocks, and artificial structures that are protected from rainfall (Fig. 36 A ).

Distribution.

Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines ( Stange 2004; Sekimoto 2014; Hayashi et al. 2020).

Remarks.

There are two views between the genera Baliga Navás and Hagenomyia Banks. According to the first opinion, Baliga is treated as the synonym of Hagenomiya ( Esben-Petersen 1913; Markl 1954; Wang et al. 2018). Conversely, the opposing view treats both Baliga and Hagenomyia as valid genera ( Stange 2004; Hayashi et al. 2020). In this study, we concur with the latter perspective but the relationship between the genera Baliga and Hagenomyia requires further study ( Wang et al. 2018; Lin et al. 2024).

Figures

Figure 5. Baliga micans (McLachlan, 1875), adult. A. Dorsal habitus, male; B. Head, frontal view; C. Head and thorax, dorsal view; D, E. Male terminalia: D. Lateral view; E. Ventral view; F, G. Female terminalia: F. Lateral view; G. Ventral view; H – K. Male genitalia: H. Dorsal view; I. Ventral view; J. Lateral view; K. Caudal view.

Figure 6. Baliga micans (McLachlan, 1875), third instar larva. A – C. Habitus: A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Lateral view; D, E. Head: D. Dorsal view; E. Ventral view; F. Abdominal sternite IX.

Figure 35. Living third instar larvae. A. Synclisis japonica; B. Baliga micans; C. Euroleon coreanus; D. Myrmeleon bore; E. Myrmeleon formicarius; F. Myrmeleon immanis; G. Nepsalus jezoensis; H. Distoleon littoralis; I. Ascalohybris subjacens; J. Libelloides sibiricus.

Figure 36. Habitats of the Myrmeleontidae larvae, with arrows indicating the positions where the larvae were collected. A. Under a dead tree trunk (Baliga micans); B. Calcareous grassland in limestone area (Euroleon coreanus); C. Sandy riverbank (Myrmeleon bore); D. Cut slope beside trail (Myrmeleon formicarius); E. Foredune (Myrmeleon immanis); F. Rock wall covered with lichen (Nepsalus jezoensis); G. Natural coastal dune (Synclisis japonica and Distoleon littoralis); H. Rocky hill (Ascalohybris subjacens and Libelloides sibiricus).

Figure 37. Distribution maps. A. Synclisis japonica and Baliga micans; B. Genus Myrmeleon (Myrmeleon bore, Myrmeleon fomicarius, and Myrmeleon immanis); C. Dendroleon pupillaris and Nepsalus jezoensis; D. Genus Distoleon (Distoleon littoralis and Distoleon nigricans); E. Genus Paraglenurus (Paraglenurus albiventris, Paraglenurus japonicus, and Paraglenurus melanostictus); F. Euroleon coreanus and Deutoleon lineatus lineatus; H. Ascalohybris subjacens and Libelloides sibiricus.