Purenleon apache Miller and Stange, 2014

Miller, Robert B. & Stange, Lionel A., 2014, A revision of the genus Purenleon Stange (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Nemoleontini), Insecta Mundi 2014 (384), pp. 1-67 : 27-29

Purenleon apache Miller and Stange , new species

Figures 51–57

Holotype male, Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mts., Arizona, 1518 meters, III.25.1985, reared, Miller and Stange ( FSCA).

Diagnosis. Hind margin of forewing not suffused; pronotum without elongate white bristles laterally; tibial spurs of hindleg reaching only a little beyond apex of basitarsus.

Holotype male: Length of body 25 mm; forewing 32 mm; hindwing 31 mm. Coloration: face pale brown with narrow dark brown band below and between fossae; mouthparts mostly pale, distal palpomere of labius dark brown, apex of distal maxillary palpomere with some dark brown; apex of mandible dark brown; antenna mostly dark brown, scape pale brown distally, flagellomere I with long white pale brown area on anterior face, other flagellomeres with narrow pale brown apices; hind margin of forewing not dark brown suffused from near base to well beyond midpoint; abdominal tergites and sternites dark brown. Chaetotaxy: pronotum without elongate white bristles; forecoxa with elongate white bristles longer than coxal diameter on lateral face in addition to elongate white setae on posterior margin; forefemur with numerous long setae on exterior face; forecoxa, forefemur and thoracic pleura with long white setae not swollen distally; midfemoral sense hair same length as forefemoral sense hair, about one half length of forefemur. Structure: pronotum a little broader than long measured along midline; hind basitarsus about five times longer than median diameter; tibial spurs of hindleg extend to apex of tarsomere II; forebasitarsus about four times longer than median diameter; foretibial spurs extend to apex of tarsomere III; forewing costal area expands gradually from base, without interconnected crossveins; CuP + lA of forewing runs obliquely to hind margin along posterior fork of CuA at a point near origin of radial sector; hindlegs longer than others; tibial spurs of hindleg reaching only a little beyond apex of basitarsus; male genitalia ( Fig. 55 ) with thick, weakly arched gonarcus which is emarginate at middle, no mediuncus; paramere very complex with short narrow (about twice as long as wide) process toward gonarcus united with similar process from other paramere by a broad (three times as wide as long), curved, mediuncus-like sclerite; below this a broadly triangular (about three times wider than long) plate with scallop-like sculpture which curves under and expands into bigger plate which curves again below into small process (about as broad as long) toward base; genital membrane below parameres unusually large, circular with many prominent setae especially dorsally.

Female ( Fig. 56, 57 ): about as described for male except terminalia with ectoproct with postventral lobe about as broad as long, with long, apical setae; posterior gonapophyses well separated, about six times longer than median diameter, bowed; gonapophyseal plate narrow, mostly straight, about six times longer than wide; lateral gonapophyses widely separated, about five times longer than width, without digging setae but with elongate setae; pregenitale prominent, broad V-shaped sclerite, lateral process about one-half as long as pregenitale width; spermatheca at least seven times longer than greatest diameter, weakly curved, then strongly bent at about one-fourth apical distance, then weakly recurved apically.

Larva: Chaetotaxy: dorsal surface of head capsule with prominent submedial row of large dolichasters posterior to lateral tentorial suture; ventral head capsule with elongate, highly expanded flat-ended setae; dorsal abdominal segments IV–VIII with and ventral head capsule without bead-like setae; dorsal abdominal segments IV–VIII with many simple setae and some straight-sided dolichasters. Structure: mandible longer than head capsule, distance between teeth 1 and 3 about equal to that between base and tooth; mesothoracic spiracle borne on tubercle about as long as wide; abdominal spiracles shorter than high, shorter than dorsal abdominal spiracle; spiracles IV– VI without nipples.

Biology. Larvae were found in small rock overhangs in dark decomposed rock material thinly covered with small leaves. They were in rain protected locations. Purenleon apache larvae have more debris cemented to their heads than larvae of P. aztecus but similar to the larva of P. toltecus . This debris is difficult to remove.

Types. 2 males, 3 females, June to July.

MEXICO. Sonora: 7 miles south Alamos, 20.III.1985, Miller and Stange reared (1f, FSCA).

U.S.A. Arizona: Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mts., 4980’, 9.VII.1963, Vesterby (1m, FSCA) ; Madera Canyon, 25.III.1985, Miller and Stange reared (1m, FSCA) ; 5 miles west Portal, Chiricahua Mts. , 8.VI.1956, Stratham (2f, FSCA) .

Discussion. Purenleon apache is related to P. toltecus and P. aztecus in having the forefemur with numerous long setae on exterior face and the forecoxa has numerous elongate and often distally swollen setae on lateral face in addition to elongate white setae on posterior margin. Purenleon apache differs from P. aztecus in not having the hind margin of forewing suffused and the tibial spurs reach near to apex of tarsomere II. From P. toltecus , the absence of elongate white setae laterally on the pronotum, those of the lateral face of forecoxa not swollen distally and in having the forewing costal area higher than wide are distinguishing characters. The larva of P. apache agrees with P. aztecus and P. toltecus in having the dorsal surface of the head capsule with a prominent sublateral row of large dolichasters posterior to the lateral tentorial suture. Also, the abdominal spiracles are easily visible, although shorter than or equal to basal width in these three species. Characters for the larval key were taken from larval skins in cocoons since no preserved larvae are available.

Etymology. Named for the Apachean people which lived in the habitat area of this species.

Figures

Figures 51–57. Purenleon apache Miller and Stange, adult. 51) head and thorax; 52) lateral view; 53) vertex; 54) wings; 55) male genitalia; 56) female terminalia, lateral view; 57) female terminalia, ventral view.