Purenleon nunezi Miller and Stange

Miller, Robert B. & Stange, Lionel A., 2014, A revision of the genus Purenleon Stange (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Nemoleontini), Insecta Mundi 2014 (384), pp. 1-67 : 48-50

Purenleon nunezi Miller and Stange

Figures 103–110

Purenleon nunezi Miller and Stange 2011: 20 , Fig. 16–18 (color photos of adult).

Holotype male, El Capa, 10 miles 17 km. northeast of Vallejuelo, 27.V.1986, Miller and Stange ( FSCA).

Further larval description. Miller and Stange 2011: 23.

Diagnosis. Length of body 22–24 mm, forewing and hindwing length 26–29 mm. Coloration dark brown; mouthparts pale brown with dark spot on stipes; clypeus and labrum pale brown; large dark brown band under antennal bases, which fuses with smaller epicranial mark and encircles antennal bases laterally; anterior row of the vertex has dark brown scars consisting of dark brown sublateral band narrowly separating it from double dark brown spot at middle; middle row with broad submedial spot which is extended narrowly to posterior margin; antenna with scape pale brown with dark brown basal ring which is weak anteriorly, petiole with dark brown basal band interrupted anteriorly; flagellomeres with basal half or more dark brown, becoming nearly all dark brown before clava; pronotum dark brown with weak median pale stripe, pale brown area submedially in furrow, pale brown sublaterally at middle extending to anterior margin, pale area posterolaterally; nota mostly dark brown with dark spot sublaterally on prescutum, scattered irregular pale areas, venter nearly all pale brown; forecoxa pale brown with two small dark brown areas on posterior face; mera dark brown; forefemur with broad subbasal dark area and apical dark brown area, closing face mostly pale brown; other femora with dark brown mostly restricted to apical area; foretibia and midtibia with three dark brown rings, subbasally, near middle and apically; femora and tibiae with some dark brown spots, especially at setal bases; tarsus with tarsomeres III and IV mostly dark brown, distal tarsomere dark brown apically; wing membrane with prominent rhegmal and cubital streaks, white stigma preceeded by dark brown spots; subcostal area with some dark brown streaking; hindwing without suffusion; wing veins with alternate dark and pale brown areas; abdomen with tergites mostly dark brown with double pale brown spot posteriorly on tergite I, reduced pale brown areas on tergite II, tergites III to VIII with prominent pale streak submedially from near base to near middle, weakly connected at middle on tergites III and IV; sternites and terminalia mostly pale brown. Chaetotaxy: pronotum and mesonotum without bristles, all setae much shorter than those on forecoxa which has a few elongate white bristles posteriorly nearly equal in length to greatest coxal diameter; midfemoral sense hair as long as forefemoral sense hair which is about 3/4’s length of femur; posterior margin of sternite VIII of female with many elongate setae. Structure: pronotum a little broader than long measured along midline; forewing expands gradually from base, with costal cells simple, not interconnected, higher than wide above origin of radial sector, those at middle higher than wide, gradually narrowing basally; CuP + 1A runs obliquely to hind margin along posterior fork of CuA at a point below origin of radial sector; midtibia slightly more swollen than foretibia; basitarsus of hindleg about 3.0 times longer than greatest diameter, shorter than pretarsal claws which are shorter than tibial spurs which extend beyond apex of hind tarsomere II; abdomen shorter than wings; male genitalia ( Fig. 109 ) with broad, weakly arched gonarcus, broadest at middle, no mediuncus; paramere elongate plate about seven times longer than wide with wide, sclerotized lip at middle which bends laterally at posterior end in front of similar angled area of main paramere plate; female terminalia ( Fig. 110 ) with ectoproct postventral lobe upturned; posterior gonapophyses well separated, about six times longer than median diameter, strongly curved with very long setae on exterior face (longer than gonapophysis); gonapophyseal plate elongate, broadest at base; lateral gonapophyses well separated, about five times longer than greatest width, very strong digging setae toward apex; pregenitale triangular, about five times wider than long with gradually narrowing median process which is about as long as wide; spermatheca a long tube (at least ten times longer than median diameter), strongly recurved at apex.

Larva: Coloration: head capsule light reddish; labial palpus longer than basal width of mandible; head much longer than wide with dolichasters; ventral head capsule with one pair of dark brown sublateral spots; Chaetotaxy: mandible with several pale dolichasters on mesal margin near base. Structure: mandible longer than ventral head capsule, distance between teeth 1 and 3 longer than between base and tooth 1; labial palpus longer than basal width of mandible; head much longer than wide with dolichasters; mesothoracic spiracle borne on tubercle; abdominal spiracles II to VII higher than basal width, somewhat larger than abdominal spiracle I; spiracles IV–VI with prominent expanded nipples.

Biology. At El Capa after sunset, many dozens of adults began to fly together and were concentrated in a small forest opening. This might have been a reproductive swarm. This has not been observed in other species of Purenleon . The only discovered larva of P. nunezi (reared) came from an elevated water eroded area created in a deep gully which was filled with pale white sand. In average rain years, the incut probably remains relatively dry.

Material studied. 25 males, 34 females. June to October.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: San Juan Province: El Capa, 10 miles 17 km. northeast of Vallejuelo, 27.V.1986, Miller and Stange (8m, 9 f, FSCA). 13m, 20f, El Capa, 1 km. on road to Vallejuelo, 21.V.1985, Núñez, Woodruff and Stange (13m, 20f, FSCA) ; Monte Cristi Province: 3 km. north Villa Elisa , 17.VII.1986, Woodruff and Stange (1f, FSCA) ; 9 Km. north Elisa , 6.IV.1986, Miller and Stange (3m, lf, FSCA) ; 1m, 3f, 10 miles south Monte Cristi, 2.X.1985, Woodruff and Stange, at blacklight (1m. 3f. f, FSCA) .

Discussion. This species can be distinguished from other Purenleon in Hispaniola except P. woodruffi by the complete lack of elongate bristle-like setae on the pronotum. The elongate midfemoral sense hair relates it to P. minor and P. woodruffi which lack suffusion in the subcostal area. The hind basitarsus is about three times as long as middle diameter which is found also in P. minor but not in P. woodruffi which has the hind basitarsus about 2.5 times longer than middle diameter. The female terminalia, especially the shape of the pregenitale, are distinctive. Also, at the El Capa locality three females were collected which have different wing markings ( Fig. 106 ) than other specimens. In particular, the cubital stripe of most of the specimens is replaced by a large round dark brown spot. This might be a different species but male material is needed to resolve the problem.

Etomology. This species was named for the Dominican Republic entomologist, Carmelo Núñez, who assisted in field work.

Figures

Figures 103–110. Purenleon nunezi Miller and Stange, adult. 103) head and thorax; 104–105 lateral view; 106) full dorsal view, unusual specimen; 107) wings; 108) wings, unusual specimen; 109) male genitalia; 110) female terminalia, ventral view.

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.