The Dimarellini of Mexico (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae ...

The Dimarellini of Mexico (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) with the Descriptions of Two New Species of Dimarellal

LIONEL A. STANGE Department of Entomology and Parasitology, University of California, Davis

ABSTRACT

The tribe Dimarellini Markl is redefined on the basis of the pretarsal claws; the genera Elachyleon EsbenPetersen and Navasoleon Banks are here assigned to it, while Nobra Navas and Mystroleon Banks are reduced to synonyms of Dimarella Banks. Elachyleon and Dimarella occur in Mexico; these two genera are char-

acterized and keyed, and a key is given to four species of Dimarella, including D. menkei (Sonora, Mexico) and D. psammophila (Veracruz, Mexico). Elaclzyleon pzmctiperznis Esben-Petersen, previously known from Trinidad and Costa Rica, is recorded from Tampico, Mexico.

The tribe Dimardlini is known from South America and as far north as Costa Rica in Central America. Recently I collected two new species of Dinzarella Banks in Mexico, considerably extending the northward range of the tribe. Markl (1954) proposed the tribe, basing it upon venational characteristics. As will be discussed under the tribal treatment, the nature of the pretarsal claws is perhaps a more fundamental feature of this group.

My thanks are due the following persons and their institutions for the loan of material or for type information: D. E. Kimmins, British Museum (Natural History) ( B M N H ) ; M. Beier, Naturhidorisches Museum (Vienna) ; S. Kelner-Pillault, Museutn National #Histoire Naturelle (Paris) ; E. G. MacLeod, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University (MCZ) ; L. Vkzquez, Instituto Biologia, Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de Mexico (UNAM) ; H . Weidner, Zoologisches Staatsinstitut und Museum (Hamburg).

Tribe DIMARELLINMIarkl

Markl, W. 1954. Verhandl. Naturf. Gesellsch. Basd 65 : 247-8, figs. 84, 85.

This tribe is part of the subfamily Macronemur-

inae. hlarkl differentiated the tribe from its rela-

tives by the following features of the forewing vena-

tion. Vein 2A forks and there is no anterior Bank-

sian line; also, the first anal vein ( C u P + l A ) and

the posterior fork of the cubitus are parallel for a

long distance. Except for the latter characteristic,

I have found these features difficult to use and here

redefine the Dimarellini on the basis of the peculiar

pretarsal claws. The pretarsal claws have the ability

of folding against the tarsus and are received by

a brush of setae on the

side of the distal

tarsomere (Figs. 8 to 10). All the other genera

of antdlions outside of the D i m a r e h i in the New

World lack this extreme flexibility of the prekarsal

claws.

Markl referred three genera to this tribe, namely,

Dimarella Bankst Nobra Navas, and Mystroleon

Banks. As will be shown under the discussion of

Dimarella, both Nobra and Mystroleon are synonyms

Accepted for publ~cationNovember 29, 1962.

of Dimarella. I have found that Elachyleon EsbenPetersen and Navasoleon Banks also belong to this tribe.

Navasoleon is a monobasic genus with Gymnocnenaia boliviana Banks as its type. I t is easily distinguished from Dimarella and Elachyleon by the absence of tibia1 spurs. Also, the female genitalia lack digging setae and the anterior gonapophysis is enlarged and inflated. Another distinctive feature of this genus is the short distal tarsomere. The presence of the brush of setae on the fourth as well as on the distal tarsomere is probably due to the abbreviated condition of (the latter. Since the male is unknown, it is difficult to discuss its relationships with the other two genera. I t is probably closer to Elachyleon because of the similarity of the forewing venation. Both genera have CuP+lA slanting along the divergent posterior fork of CuA.

Elaclzyleon also is a monobasic genus, with Elnchyleon punctipennis Esben-Pekersen as its type. Information on the relationships and characteristics of this genus are given under the generic treatment of Elachyleon.

These three genera are restric'ted to the New World. The occurrence of this tribe in the Old World will probably be recognized when further studies of the Old-World genera are made. I have seen a species from the Malagasy Republic, another from the British Cameroons, and a third from Japan (Glenuroides jnponiczls MacLachlan) which possess this odd type of pretarsus. All three species appear to be in the subfamily Macronemurinae.

KEY TO T H E MEXICAN GENERA OF DIMARELLINI

antenna1 base nearly adjacent to ocular rim (Fig. 5) ;

posterior fork of CuA in forewing runs at an oblique

angle to hind margin (Fig. 1) ; forewing broadest

near apex Elachyleon ............................... Esben-Petersen

Antennal base widely separated from ocular rim (Fig.

4) ; posterior fork of CuA in forewing runs parallel

with CuP+lA and hind margin for a long distance

(Figs. 2, 3) ; forewing broadest near middle................

.

.................. Dimarella Banks

Dimarella Banks Dimarella Banks, 1913. Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 39:

229-30. 1943, Bol. Ent. Venezolana 2(3) : 166. Type-species: Eremoleon angustus Banks, 1908 (MCZ), by original designation.

810

c

u

c

FIGS. 1-3.-Wings of Dimarellini. FIG.1.-Forewing of Elachyleon plmctipends. FIG. 2.-Forewing of Dimarella aagusta. FIG.3.-Forewing and hindwing of Dimarella menkei.

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Nobra Navas, 1915. Broteria 13:6. Type-species: Nobra collection of Nmtropical ant-lions sent to me for

martinsi Navas, 1915 (Paris), by monotypy. NEW SYNONYMY. Mystroleon Banks, 1924, Bull. Mus. Comp. 2001. Har-

identification by Dr. Beier (Vienna), includes two specimens of D. angusta from Costa Rica. One is

vard 65 : 436. TvDe-sDecieS: Mvrineleolz braedator from the type-locality of Nobra never~nanni (Rio

Walker, 1853 ( B ~ N H ) b, y rnoiotypy. NEW SYN- Reventazon, Farm Hamburg, Costa Rica) . After

ONYMY.

comparing this specimen with the original descrip-

Diagnosis.-Antenna1 base widely separated from tion of N . nevermanni, I have come to the con-

ocular rim; posterior fork of CuA runs parallel with clusion that N. nevermanuti should be considered a

CUP+1A and hind margin for a long distance; fore- synonym of D. angusta (Banks). Three other spe-

wing broadest near middle ; tibial spurs present ; cies were described in the genus Nobra by Navas

ventral setal brush of distal tarsomere with setae from South America (N. silvaticus, 1918; N . ripar-

shorter .than tarsomere width, not bent apically; ius, 1918; N . garciai, 1932). I have no information

sensory hair of femur absent; abdominal segment on the identity of these species but they are doubtless

V I l I longer than wide; sternite IX of male produced distinct from the Mexican species.

medially, longer than wide (Fig. 16) ; ectoproct of Dr. Kimmins also examined the holotype of

male with postventral lobe; male gonarcus expanded hlyrmeleo~zpraedator Walker for me. This species

laterally, paramere with clavate projection (Fig. 13) ; was described from Brazil and is the type-species of

female ectoproct with strong digging setae ventrally; Mystroleon Banks. Kimniins found that M. praedator

lateral gonapophysis with strong digging setae, long- agrees with the characteristics of Dimarella and in-

er than on ectoproct; anterior gonapophysis digiti- deed appears to be conspecific with the specimen sent

form, about twice as long as wide.

of D. tarsalis. Banks' original description of Mystro-

DISCUSSION

leoa disagrees with the characters of Dimarella, so he probably misinterpreted the identity of Walker's

The two original species in Dimarella are D. an- species and had an entirely different species before

gusta (Banks) and D. efferus (Walker), as given by him whetl he drew up the description. Banks stated

Banks (1913). Later, Banks synonymized the latter that Adystroleon lacked tibial spurs and that the

species under D. tarsalis (Guilding) . Navas added cubital fork diverged to the hind margin.

a third species to Dimarella with his description of In summary, at least two species of South Amer-

D. pallida from Argentina in 1933.

ican Dimarella appear to have been described, namely

I have studied the holotype of D. a~tgusta from D. angusta and D. tarsalis, with a third species from

Santa Elena, Ecuador, and have found it to be dif- Uruguay, which may be D. pallida. There are prob-

ferent from the two new species proposed here from ably several other species of Dimarella in South

Mexico. Also, D. tarsalis which was described from America for which there are many available names

?Demerara (British Guiana) is distinct froni the that may apply, mosdy the species described in

Mexican species. I am following Banks in the iden- Mobra by Navas. So far as is known, none of the

tity of this species, since the type has not been Dinzarella species from South America are found in

located for examination. Dr. Kimmins has kindly Mexico. When nmore material becomes available

examined the hololtype of Dinzarella eflerus, described from South America, the taxonomy of the genus can

froni Park, Brazil, and has found it agreeing with be clarified.

D. tarsalis in the structure of the fordeg and in the venation of the forewing but differing in markings with a specimen sent to him for comparison. I t may

KEY TO T H E MEXICAN AND NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICAN DIMARELL-A

be that D. efferus is a different species from D. tarsalis. D. pallida is probably a valid species but the description lacks too many of the diagnostic characters to identify it. I have seen specimens of a species from Uruguay that may be D. pallida.

Through the kindness of Miss Icelner-Pillault (Paris), I was able to study the holotype of the type-species of Nobra Navas, N . martins; Navas, described from Brazil. This species is closely related to D. tarsalis and they may be synonyms, differing only in markings. However, it is clear that Nobra is a synonym of Dimarella. Navas (1936) described a second species of Nobra from Costa Rica, N . nevermanni. The type was listed in the original description as being deposited in the collection at Hamburg. Dr. Weidner has informed me that all preWorld War 11, dried, holonietabolous insect types in the Hamburg Museum were destroyed. Thus, the type of N . nezlermanni probably is lost. A small

1. In forewing, distance between CuP+lA and hind margin is greater than that between the anterior

and posterior forks of CuA at origin of radial

sector (Fig. 2) ; South and Central American

species.................................................................................

2

- In forewing, distance between CuP+lA and hind

margin less than that between the anterior and

posterior forks of CuA at origin of radial sector (Fig. 3) ; Mexican species 3 ............................................ 2. Antennal flagellomeres 4-12 longer than wide; forefemur cylindrical, about nine times longer than

wide; South America north to Costa Rica.

- An..t..e..n..n...a..l...f..l.a..g...e..l.l.o...m....e..r.e..s....4..-.1..2......w...i.d...e..r..thaang slotnag;(Bfoarnek-s)

feinur greatly swollen, about five times longer than wide; South America only....tarsalis (Guilding)

3. Basitarsus of foreleg three times as long as wide,

about equal in length to tibial spurs (Fig. 9) ; basal palpomere of labium pale; Sonora, Mexico sp. .......................................................................menkei, n.

- Basitarsus of foreleg four times longer than wide,

longer than tibial spurs (Fig. 8) ; basal palpomere

of labium dark ; Veracruz, Mexico ...........................................................p.sammophila, n. sp.

FIG. 4.-Head of Dimarella psammophila. FIG.5.-Head of Elachyleon punctipennis. FIG.6.-Terminal abdominal segments of Dinzarella menkei, showing postventral lobe of ectoproct. FIG.7.-Terminal abdominal segments of Elachyleon punctipennis. FIG.8.-Basitarsus of foreleg of D. -psammophila. FIG.9.-Same, of D. menkei. FIG.10.Same, of E. punctipennis. FIG.11.-Hind femur of D. psawzmophila. FIG.12.-Same, of D. menkei.

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Dimavella menkei, new species

(Figs. 3, 6, 9, 12, 13)

Holofype Male.-Length 17 mm. Head with broad, shiny dark interantennal band, widely separated from anterior row of vertex markings and produced ventrad along ocular rim; anterior row of vertex markings with narrow brown band each side froni ocular rim to near middle where It bends backward; middle vertex row of two submedian dots; posterior vertex row with pair of lateral dots and a posterior double mark at middle. Maxillus and labius pale with dark cardo and dark on base of s~tipesand apical palpomere of labius: terminal segment of labial palpus weakly swollen; clypeus with two dark spoks. Antenna with scape and pedicel pale, dark behind; 22 flagellomeres, each dark basally; flagellomare I nearly twice as long as wide, 11-IX longer than wide, XI-XX wider than long.

Thorax covered with grayish bloom, broken with faint to strong pale and dark areas; postnotum black, metascutum with sublateral pale spots, below which are two submedial transverse bands ; cervical sclerite and spiracle mostly pale; mesoscutum with submedial row of three white bristles near anterior margin. Forefemur with confluent spots posteriorly, mid and hind femur pale with dark spots on outside face and with subapical band; fore and hind tibia pale with dark spots on outside face. Hind femur with single row of white bristles; midtibia weakly flattened with dark bands on outside face, tibial bristles mostly black; foreleg and aspecially hindleg elongate, midleg shorter. Tarsomeres pale with narrow apical dark bands; earsomere I three to four times longer than wide, I1 longer than I (fore and midtarsus) or about equal to I (hindtarsus) ; tarsomere I V about one-half of 11, V equal to I and I 1 together; tibial spurs about as long or longer than tarsomere I.

Wings as in Fig. 3. Forewing with pale venation, interrupted with dark at intersections of many cross veins (mainly subcosta and radius), some cross veins dark; dark spot at base of white stigma; seven presectoral cross veins; anterior and posterior forks of cubitus nearly parallel embracing two series of cdls; CuP+lA with 13 to 15 branches to hind margin; area between CuP+lA and hind margin narrow, less distance at cubital fork than between forks of CuA at radial sector. Hindwing venation pale with dark on subcosta and radius at cross veins.

Abdomen dark with grayish bloom; pale areas (often yellowish) are as follows: tergite I with sublateral marks, 111-VI with double mark near middle, 11-VIII with posterior margin pale, produced anteriorly at middle; sternites 111-IV with apical pale spot at middle. I X pale tipped; sternites and tergites mostly pale at lateral margins; eotoproct inostly pale, dark at median edge, postventral lobe pale with dark areas; tergites 1-11 and sternite I 1 with numerous black pores; pos,tventral lobe of ectroproct about as long as tergite V I I I ; genitalia as in Fig. 13.

Measurements (made with an eyepiece micrometer. in mni.) are: Pterokhorax 2.9; abdomen 12.7; third abdominal tergite 2.3 ; postventral lobe of tergite X 1.0; antenna 2.8; forewing length 16.8, width 3.2; liindwing lengtl~14.5, width 2.0; terminal segment of labial palpus length 0.25, greatest width 0.05; foreleg, first tarsomere length 0.25, second 0.33, third 0.26, fourth 0.17, fifth 0.50; hindleg, first tarsomere length 0.36, second 0.38, third 0.28, fourth 0.20, fifth 0.63.

Types.-Holotype 8 : Rio Cuchujachi, 10 miles

southeast Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, May 22, 1962 (L. Stange) collected by "jack lighting." Four O topoparatypes, May 22, 1962 (F. Parker, L. Stange), June 13, 1961 (A. Menke, L. Stange) at ultraviolet light. The holotype will be deposited in the California Academy of Sciences. One paratype will be sent each to the MCZ and USNM. Those remainiilg will remain in my collection.

Variation.-The four female paratypes agree closely with the male and each olther in most respects. The relative lengths of the antennal segments varies slightly. Flagellomeres VIII-IX are as wide as long in the females. The male has a longer abdomen. The females lack the black pores on tergite I 1 and sternite 11. Measurements were made on the four females. They agree closely with the male. The following measurements (in mm., means in parentheses) indicate the extent of the variation found: body length 12.8-16.5 (14.6) ; abdomen 8.8-10.4(9.7) ; forewing length 14.5-17.3(15.9), width 2.8-3.1 (3.0) ; terminal segment labial palpus length 0.25-0.26, width 0.05 ; third abdominal tergite 1.9-2.5 (2.1).

Distribution.-In addition to the type series, 1 8 and 3 9 were examined from 8 miles south Elota, Sinaloa, Mexico, July 2 and August 26, 1963 (F.

Parker, L. Stange, Stange coll.) . These specimens

agree fairly well with the characters given for the type-series. One specimen has 8 presectoral cross veins in the forewing and commonly there are 4 submedial white bristles on the mesoscutum. The number of flagellomeres varies from 21 to 23 in the females.

Discussion.-This species should be readily separable from the other species of Dinzarella in Pllexico and Central Anlerica by the characters in the key. D. meakei is the sniallest known species in the genus. I t is dedicated to Arnold Menke, who discovered it.

Dimarella psammophila, new species

(Figs. 4, 8, 11)

Holotype female.-Length 19.8 mm. Agrees with the description of D. nzenkei except as follows: anterior row of vertex markings orange-colored, dark at lateral margin ; basal palpomere of labius dark; 25 antennal flagellomeres, I-X longer than wide, XI as wide as long, XII-XXV wider than long; mesoscutum with submedial row of five white bristles near anterior margin; hindfemur without row of bristles (Fig. 11) ; tarsomere I four to five times

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