Purenleon connexus (Banks)

Miller, Robert B. & Stange, Lionel A., 2014, A revision of the genus Purenleon Stange (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Nemoleontini), Insecta Mundi 2014 (384), pp. 1-67 : 14-16

Purenleon connexus (Banks)

Figures 15–20 , 136–139

Puren connexus Banks 1920: 329 . Holotype male, San Jacinto Mountains , California. 25. VI (MCZC).

Taxonomy. Banks 1927: 64 (in Psammoleon ); Poole and Gentili 1996: 734 (in Lemolemus ); Stange 2002: 286 (in Purenleon ).

Further description. Banks 1927: 64, Fig. 35 , 44 (tibial spurs; female terminalia); Miller 1990: 173, Fig. 7 (female terminalia).

Distribution. U.S.A. ( Banks 1927: 65). Arizona, California, Texas; Mexico (Baja California, Coahuila, Colima, Nuevo Leon).

Diagnosis. Length of body 23 to 26 mm, length of forewing 26 to 33 mm, hindwing 25 to 32 mm. Coloration: face pale brown with broad dark brown band below and between antennal fossae, sometimes extended weakly below at lateral margin; mouthparts mostly pale brown but extensively dark brown on distal palpomere of labius and maxillus; antenna dark brown with pale brown at apices of scape and flagellomeres, flagellomeres mostly dark brown with very narrow pale brown apices; forecoxa mostly dark brown with pale brown at middle on lateral margin; femora and tibiae mostly dark brown; tarsi black colored; forewing with completely (rarely widely interrupted) serpentine dark brown stripe directed toward wing apex; abdomen mostly dark brown with some pale brown on female terminalia and male tergite IX and ectoproct. Chaetotaxy: few short white setae on scape, pedicel, and flagellomere I; pronotum with few long white setae laterally and erect setae on disc but usually none on mesonotum; thoracic pleura with many long white setae; forecoxa with many long white setae, especially posteriorly; femora with many appressed, white setae; midfemoral sense hair short, about twice as long as femur diameter, much shorter than forefemoral sense hair which is about one half as long as forefemur; abdomen with many short white setae on tergites and sternites. Structure: antenna moderately long and clavate with about 43 flagellomeres; basal flagellomeres longer than wide, others broader than long; pronotum longer than wide measured along midline; hind basitarsus about seven times longer than middle diameter, tibial spurs reach middle of tarsomere II; foreleg basitarsus about six times longer than middle diameter, tibial spurs reaching middle of tarsomere II; pretarsal claws short, about one fifth as long as tibial spurs; wings longer than body, forewing slightly longer than hindwing; forewing costal area gradually broadened basally, without interconnected crossveins; male genitalia ( Fig. 18 ) with gonarcus weakly arched, mediuncus prominent, about four times wider than long; paramere complex with well-defined process near gonarcus that is about twice as long as wide, irregularly shaped near apex, below which is an elongate, non-sculptured hollow structure strongly sclerotized dorsally, about three times longer than wide, strongly curved anteriorly, abruptly produced laterally near middle, and narrowing posteriorly; female terminalia ( Fig. 19, 20 ) with ectoproct without evident postventral lobe; posterior gonapophysis about six times longer than median diameter, strongly bowed at middle, with longest setae at middle on exterior face; gonapophyseal plate elongate (more than six times longer than broad), broadest starting at base of gonapophysis, then abruptly narrowing and bending at posterior one-fourth; lateral gonapophysis about four times longer than median diameter with prominent digging setae posteriorly; pregenitale broad, about five times broader than long, narrowing laterally; spermatheca shaped as a broad C.

Larva. Fig. 136–139. Coloration: mandible pale brown; ventral head capsule variable in coloration, usually two submedial brown spots behind lateral tentorial suture. Chaetotaxy: head capsule without dolichasters; abdomen ventrally with terminal digging setae in groups of four with the most central seta short and the other three setae longer. Structure: mandible as long as length of head capsule (ventral view), distance between teeth 1 and 3 longer than that between base and tooth 1; mesothoracic spiracle on tubercle broader than long; abdominal spiracles not borne on elongate tubercles.

Variation. The coloration of larvae varies from very light (Redding, CA, Fig. 136, 138) to very dark brown (Colima, Mexico, Fig. 137, 139).

Biology. Larvae live in low light areas at the back of caves or rock overhangs where high temperatures or light levels are avoided. They live in rock dust or fine wind-blown sand. The habitat must be free of dampness or rain exposure. They are leg anchorers.

Material studied. 35 males, 39 females. 7 larvae. May to October.

MEXICO. Baja California: El Progresso, Sierra de Juarez, 3.VII.1960, Sleeper (1m, FSCA) . Coahuila: Saltillo , 1980, reared, R. Miller (1m, 1f, FSCA) . Colima: Rio Salado, 7 km. south Colima , III.14.1985, reared, Miller & Stange (1 larva, 1f, FSCA) ; Salado , reared (1larva, 1 m, 1f, FSCA) . Nuevo Leon: Huasteca Canyon , 11. VI1.1982 , reared, R. Miller & L. Stange (1 larva, FSCA) ; 8 km. west Santiago , 2500’, 10.VII.1952, F. Werner (1f, Tucson) .

U.S.A. Arizona: Brown Canyon, Baboquivari Mts. , 6.IX.1959, Menke & Stange (1f, FSCA) ; Gates Pass , 5 miles west Tucson, 15.IX.1963, V. Vesterby (1f, UCDC) ; Mount Lemmon Road, 13 miles marker, Santa Catalina Mts , 3.VII.1983, reared, Miller and Stange (1larva, 1m, 2f, FSCA) ; Oak Creek Canyon, 12. VI, Sperry (1m, MCZC) ; Organ Pipe National Monument , 13.X.1963, V. Vesterby (1m, UCDC) ; Palmerlee (3f, MCZC) ; Sabino Canyon , Pima Co., 31.VIII.1963, Stange (2m,1f, FSCA) ; Texas Canyon , 18 miles west Wilcox, Cochise Co., 14. VI.1981, reared, R. Miller (1f, FSCA) . California: 5 miles west Bishop , Inyo Co., 7.VIII.1962, Smith (1f, FSCA) ; 6 miles east Coalinga , Fresno Co., 28.VIII.1977, Snelling (1f, FSCA) ; Covington Flat, Joshua Tree National Monument , 24. VI.1960, Sleeper (4m. 6f, FSCA) ; Deep Canyon , Riverside Co., 8.X.1963, Schlinger (1f, Riverside) ; Mint Canyon , 31.VII.1935, R. Beamer (1f, Lawrence) ; 14 miles west Patterson , Stanislaus Co., 13. V.1985, E. Miller, reared (3m, FSCA) ; 10 miles north Redding , Shasta Co., 1.VIII.1979, reared from laid eggs, Miller (4 larvae, 5m, 4f, FSCA) ; Woody , Kern Co., 19.VIII.1958, Stange (1f, FSCA) . Nevada: 10 miles southwest Gerlach , Washoe Co., IX.1985, reared, Miller and Stange (1 larva, 1f, FSCA) ; Pyramid Lake , Washoe Co., 14.VIII.1981, reared, R. Miller (5m, 4f, FSCA) ; Pyramid Lake , 40  12', 34"N, 119°, 32', 45"” W, 15. V.1984, reared, R. Miller (l m, 2f, FSCA) . Texas: Big Bend National Park , Brewster Co., 12.VII.1991, Vogtsberger (1m, FSCA) ; Brownwood , 16. VI.1927 (2f, USNM) ; Ft. Davis, Davis Mts. , 8.VIII.1983, Knudson (2m, FSCA) ; Kennedy , V.1944, Weyrauch (1m, FSCA) ; Stephenville , Erath Co., 28. VI.1982, Agnew (1m, FSCA) ; Uvalde , 21. VI.1961, R. Westcott (1m, FSCA) . Utah: Leeds Canyon, Washington Co. , 14.VIII.1960, Knowlton (1m, FSCA) ; Moab , Grand Co., 18.VIII.1929, L. Gloyd (1f, UMMZ) ; Shootering Canyon , Garfield Co., 1.VIII.1978, Voight (1f, FSCA) ; Snow Canyon, Washington Co. , 8.IX.1989, Nye (1m, FSCA) .

Discussion. This appears to be the commonest species of the group with the greatest distribution from California to western Texas and south to Colima, Mexico. Also, it is the most variable species especially the wings markings and larval pigmentation.

Figures

Figures 15–20. Purenleon connexus (Banks), adult. 15) head and thorax; 16) lateral view; 17) wings; 18) male genitalia; 19) female terminalia, ventral view; 20) female terminalia, lateral view.

Figures 32–36. Purenleon fernandezi Miller and Stange, adult. 32) head and thorax; 33) lateral view; 34) wings; 35) male genitalia; 36) female terminalia, ventral view.

Figures 42–46. Purenleon adamsi Miller and Stange, adult. 42) head and thorax; 43) lateral view; 44) wings; 45) male genitalia; 46) female terminalia, ventral view.

Figures 1–7. Purenleon abruptus Stange, adult. 1) head and thorax; 2) lateral view; 3) vertex; 4) wings; 5) male genitalia; 6) female terminalia, ventral view; 7) female terminalia, lateral view.