Purenleon toltecus 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 : 54-58

Purenleon toltecus Miller and Stange , new species

Figures 122–126 , 177–180

Holotype male, Ixtapontango , Mexico, III.10.1985, R. Miller & L. Stange ( FSCA).

Diagnosis. Costal area of forewing abruptly expanding near base; hind margin of forewing not suffused; pronotum without elongate white bristles laterally; forecoxa with distally swollen setae; tibial spurs of hindleg reaching only a little beyond apex of basitarsus.

Holotype male. Length of body 25–31 mm; forewing and hindwing length 30–37 mm. Coloration: face mostly pale brown, with narrow dark brown band below and between antennal fossae; distal palpomere of labius mostly pale brown but with some dark brown especially at sensory area and at apex; antenna with scape and pedicel mostly pale brown but much darker laterally; flagellomeres mostly pale brown, rest of flagellomeres mostly dark brown with narrow pale brown apex; hindtibia pale brown with basal, subbasal and apical dark brown rings; pronotum mostly dark brown with median pale line, submedial pale area enclsoing short dark brown stripe hind margin of forewing not suffused from near base to well beyond mid point; abdominal tergites dark brown with pale brown spots anteriorly on tergites I– VI; ectoproct and tergite IX pale brown. Chaetotaxy: pronotum without elongate white bristles; forecoxa with elongate white bristles longer than coxal diameter on lateral face, weakly swollen distally, in addition to elongate white setae on posterior margin; forefemur with numerous long, white, distally swollen setae on exterior face; thoracic pleura with many long, white, distally swollen setae; midfemoral sense hair about equal to foremoral sense hair which is about one half as long as forefemur; abdomen with very short setae. Structure: distal palpomere of labius weakly swollen; antenna with about 40 flagellomeres, flagellomere I longer than wide, rest broader than long; pronotum broader than long measured along midline; forewing costal area expands abruptly from base, without interconnected crossveins, cells near middle about as broad as high; CuP + lA of forewing runs obliquely to hind margin along posterior fork of CuA at a point a little beyond origin of radial sector; tibial spurs of hindleg reaching only a little beyond apex of basitarsus which is about five times longer than median diameter; male genitalia ( Fig. 125 ) with broad, weakly arched gonarcus, with large mediuncus, which is broader than long; paramere with two levels, upper level sculptured, about five times longer than wide, curving underneath medially to larger, broader plate which is abruptly narrowed at posterior margin; parameres joined at mediuncus.

Female. Fig. 126 . About as described for male except for terminalia with ectoproct with broad, upturned postventral lobe; posterior gonapophyses well separated, about six times longer than median width, strongly bowed at middle; 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 short, about twice as long as wide, narrowing a little anteriorly, with strong digging setae that are longer than gonapophysis; pregenitale huge, broadly U-shaped; spermatheca about eight times longer than wide, nearly completely straight except strongly recurved at apex; terminalia mostly dark brown except tergites and ectoproct laterally and posterior gonapophysis pale brown.

Larva. Fig. 177–180. Coloration: mandible pale, straw colored; head capsule dorsally dark brown with no orange overtones; ventral head capsule with four longitudinal dark brown stripes. Chaetotaxy: dorsal surface of head capsule with many dolichasters of varying sizes including prominent submedial row of large dolichasters posterior to lateral tentorial suture; ventral surface of head capsule with elongate, unexpanded, flat-ended setae; dorsal surface of abdominal segments IV–VII 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 1, without dolichasters but with short setae; head capsule flares out and becomes slightly wider posterior to eye stalks; mesothoracic spiracular tubercle not developed; abdominal spiracles easily visible, but shorter than or equal to basal width.

Variation. Length of body ranges from 21 to 23 mm, forewing 28 to 35, hindwing 27 to 34 mm.

Biology. This species lives under rock overhangs in rain protected, well lit and warmer habitats. Larvae were collected in microhabitats where they could be exposed to some afternoon sun. In some localities they are the only antlion larva in the caves. At Ixtapontango, they share their overhang with P. aztecus , which live in a less well lit and cooler microhabitat. Purenleon toltecus larvae did not compete with P. aztecus for space or resources. Purenleon toltecus larvae have more debris cemented to their heads than larvae of P. aztecus but are similar to the larva of P. apache . This debris is difficult to remove.

Types. 5 males, 8 females. 2 larvae. April, September.

MEXICO. Jalisco: 19 km. north Guadalajara , 22.IX.1986, reared, R. Miller & L. Stange (1 larva, 1m, 2f, FSCA) . Mexico: Ixtapontango , 10.III.1985, reared, R. Miller & L. Stange (1 larva, 3m, 3f, FSCA) . Oaxaca: 11 miles north Miltipec , 3.III.1972, F. Parker & D. Miller (1f, FSCA; USNM) ; 23 miles south Matías Romero , 3.X.1986, reared, Miller and Stange (1m, FSCA) . Puebla: Cascaloapan , 26.IV.1962, L. Stange (1m, FSCA) ; 3 miles east Izucar de Matamoros , 1.IV.1962, L. Stange (1f, FSCA) .

Discussion. Purenleon toltecus is related to P.apache 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. It can be distinguished from P. aztecus in having the tibial spurs of hindleg reaching near the apex of tarsomere II and the hindmargin of the forewing is not suffused. From P.apache , the elongate white setae laterally on the pronotum and distally swollen setae on forecoxa as well as having the forewing costal area wider than high are diagnostic features. The larva agrees with P. apache and P. aztecus in having having a prominent sublateral row of dolichasters posterior to the lateral tentorial suture on the dorsal head capsule. Also, the abdominal spiracles are easily visible, although shorter than or equal to basal width in these three species.

Purenleon woodruf fi Miller and Stange

Figures 127–131 , 181–183

Purenleon woodruffi Miller and Stange 2011: 25 , Fig. 18 (color photo adult). Holotype male, 9 km. north of Villa Elisa , Monte Cristi Province, Dominican Republic, 24.VI.1986, R. Miller and L. Stange collectors (FSCA).

Biology. Miller and Stange 2011: 35, Fig. 36–37 (photos of larva).

Diagnosis. Length of body 20–26 mm.; forewing length 27–30 mm; hindwing 26–29 mm. Coloration: pale brown;. face pale brown with reduced dark brown band below antennal fossae, extending narrowly along mesal margin to merge with small dark brown area above antennal fossae; anterior row of vertex markings with sublateral dark band narrowly separated from double mesal mark; middle row of markings fainter, extending weakly to posterior margin, small dark spot at posterolateral margin; mouthparts pale brown except dark brown spot on stipes; antenna pale brown with small anterior mark on scape, dark brown marks on lateral and mesal margins of pedicel; basal dark brown band on flagellomeres (except basal one)before clava, more pronounced on lateral margins; pronotum pale brown with with prominent double mark submesally enclosing completely pale area, small sublateral streak on basal one half; mesonotum about equally dark and pale brown with complex pattern; mesoscutellum with large mesal area enclosing pale brown spot, not reaching posterior margin; metanotum predominately dark brown; pleura mostly pale brown except mostly dark brown ventrally; forecoxa with two small dark brown areas near base and subapically; femora with dark brown subapical band, forefemur also with dark streak on lateral face; tibiae with apical dark brown band, foretibia and midtibia also with subbasal and medial bands; tarsus mostly pale brown with tarsomeres III and IV dark brown and distal tarsomere dark brown apically; forewing costal area not suffused; wing membrane with prominent dark brown streak at rhegma, smaller one at cubitus; stigma whitish preceded by small dark brown area; wing veins and crossveins alternating pale and dark brown; abdomen with tergites mostly dark brown, pale brown on tergite II at anterior and posterior margins, tergites III–VI with double pale stripe at middle extending laterally toward posterior margin; apices narrowly pale brown. Chaetotaxy: pronotum with only inconspicuous setae that measure less than 1/2 length of forecoxal white setae which are restricted to ventral half of lateral margin and which are shorter than coxal width; midfemoral sense hair as long as that of forefemur which is over 3/4’s length of femur; posterior margin of female sternite VIII with many setae. Structure: pronotum a little broader than long measured along midline; hindwing slightly longer than forewing; forewing with costal area gradually expanding from base, with only one series of cells, those above radial sector higher than wide; forewing costal area with crossveins not interconnected, costal cells at middle higher than wide, gradually narrowing basally; forewing radial sector orignates about at basal one-third; CuP + 1A runs to posterior margin a little beyond level of origin of radial sector; hind basitarsus about 2.5 times longer than greatest diameter, shorter than pretarsal claws; hindtibial spurs reach beyond apex of tarsomere II; abdomen much shorter than wings, ectoproct simple; male terminalia ( Fig. 130 ) with strongly arched gonarcus, no apparent mediuncus; paramere at two levels, upper level is narrow elongate at least ten times longer than wide and below this is a larger sclerite, at least 10 times longer than wide which is strongly diverging laterally near middle; female terminalia ( Fig. 131 ) with ectoproct with short postventral lobe not upturned; posterior gonapophyses well separated, at least six times longer than median width, bowed, with many fine light brown hair-like setae; gonapophyseal plate elongate (at least ten times longer than greatest width), basal one third broadest, then strongly bending to much narrower apical part; lateral gonapophyses well separated, about four tmes longer than wide with many strong digging setae concentrated toward apex; pregenitale elongate narrow sclerite about ten times wider than long; spermatheca long tube (at least 8 times longer than diameter), recurved apically.

Larva. Fig. 181–183 . Coloration: ventral head capsule with dark brown stripe near mandible base extending posteriorly and laterally approach stripe from other side; small dark brown spot submedially near posterior margin. Chaetotaxy: mandible with several pale dolichasters on mesal margin near base; dorsal head capsule with many dolichasters but without submedial row posterior to lateral tentorial suture. 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;; mesothoracic spiracle borne on tubercle that is about as broad basally as long; abdominal spiracles II to VII higher than basal width, somewhat larger than abdominal spiracle I; spiracles IV–VI with prominent expanded nipples.

Biology. The larvae of this species live in fine sandy soil under rock overhangs away from strong direct sun and rain.

Material studied. 3 males, 6 females. 1 larva. June, October.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Monte Cristi Province: 9 km. north of Villa Elisa , 4.VI.1986, reared, R. Miller and L. Stange collectors (2m, 3f, 1 larva, FSCA) ;. 3 km. north of Villa Elisa , 1.X.1985, Woodruff and Stange (1m, 3f, FSCA) .

Figures

Figures 122–126. Purenleon toltecus Miller and Stange, adult. 122) head and thorax; 123) lateral view; 124) wings; 125) male genitalia; 126) female terminalia, ventral view.

Figures 127–131. Purenleon woodruffi Miller and Stange, adult. 127) head and thorax; 128) lateral view; 129) wings; 130) male genitalia; 131) female terminalia, ventral view.

Figures 181–183. Purenleon woodruffi Miller and Stange, larva. 181) dorsal view; 182–183) 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.

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 37–41. Purenleon tibialis Miller and Stange, adult. 37) head and thorax; 38) lateral view; 39) wings; 40) male genitalia; 41) female terminalia, ventral view.