Wesmaelius helanensis Tian & Liu, 2011

Zhao, Yang, Tian, Yanlin & Liu, Zhiqi, 2017, New data on brown lacewing genus Wesmaelius Krüger, 1922 from China (Neuroptera, Hemerobiidae), with a key to Chinese species, Zootaxa 4273 (1), pp. 19-30 : 26-29

Wesmaelius helanensis Tian & Liu, 2011

( Figs. 3 , 20–25 )

Wesmaelius helanensis Tian & Liu, 2011: 772 .

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by the yellowish-brown head with only the frons before the antennae obviously dark brown. Brown longitudinal stripes along the sides present in the thorax and brown longitudinal thin stripe present in the middle of pronotum and mesonotum. Legs yellowish-brown, with brown spot present at the basal and apical tibiae. Male: posteroventral edge of 8th tergite declining and not include the spiraculae; terminal lobe of parabaculum separated from one fifth, expanded distally and rolled up, a transparent small hook present in the end. Female: ectoproct ovoid, posteroventral edge slightly pointed, middle of hind margin with an obvious projection.

Measurements. Forewing length 7.4–8.4 mm, width 3.0– 4.2 mm. Hind wing length 6.6–7.3 mm, width 2.2– 4.0 mm. Body length 4.8–6.4 mm.

Description. Head. Yellowish-brown. Frons obviously dark brown, oval brown spot present in the middle of vertex. Antennae amber, ventral of scape brown, with more than fifty segments. Eyes big and black with a metallic luster.

Thorax. Yellowish-brown, with obvious brown longitudinal stripes along the sides and brown longitudinal thin stripe present in the middle of pronotum and mesonotum. Legs yellowish-brown, with brown spot present at the basal and apical tibiae.

Wings ( Fig. 3 ). Forewing oval with outer margin slightly pointed, yellowish-brown, hyaline with uneven grey sagittal stripes and sparse pale brown spots in the margin. Veins yellowish-brown with transparent intervals. Anterior radial trace bearing 3 ORB’s; ORB3 forked into 2 branches, with 2 r–rs. M simple with 2 branches. CuA forked into 6 braches after the inner gradate series and CuP simple. Four gradate series, inner gradate series 3 crossveins; middle 5; outer 6 and cubitus 3. Hind wing oval with outer margin slightly pointed, pale yellowishbrown, hyaline and immaculate. Veins pale brown and transparent, with Cu slightly darker. Rs with 4 branches, with 2 r–rs. M forked into 2 branches. CuA 4 branches and CuP simple with 2 branches. Two gradate series, inner gradate series 2 crossveins; and outer 7.

Male terminalia ( Fig. 20 ). 8th tergite trapezoidal, posteroventral edge declining and not include the spiraculae. 9th tergite rectangle from lateral view. Ectoproct subtriangular with anteroventral edge developed into slender arm, bend inwards and intersected, ended into a hook. Mediuncus of gonarcus ( Fig. 21–22 ) broadened basally, tapering distally and slightly bend downwards; paramediuncus small, curved upwards as a hook. Terminal lobe of parabaculum ( Fig. 23–24 ) separated from one fifth, expanded distally and rolled up, densely covered with small spines in the surface, ending in a small transparent hook; supraapophyseal plate wide, subtriangular from dorsal view. Hypandrium internum ( Fig. 25 ) approximate triangle from ventral view, split in the central base.

Female terminalia ( Fig. 26–27 ). Lateral of 9th tergite extended sidewards. gonapophyses laterales developed, hind margin obviously exceed the hind margin of ectoproct, approximate long oval from ventral view. Ectoproct ovoid, posteroventral slightly pointed, middle of hind margin with an obvious projection. Subgenitale broadened basally, tapering distally with apex flat; gonapophyses posteriors distally pointed and exceed the apex of subgenitale.

Distribution. China (Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Gansu)

Material examined. CHINA: 1♂, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Alxa Left Banner, Helan Mountains . 29.vii.2010. Yanlin Tian (Holotype) ( CAU) ; 1♂, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Alxa Left Banner, Helan Mountains. 6.viii.2010. Yanlin Tian ( CAU) ; 1♂, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Alxa Left Banner, Helan Mountains. 9.viii.2010. Yanlin Tian ( CAU) ; 1♀, Gansu province, Tianshui city, Qingshui county, Dalong forest . 4.viii.2013, Xinyu Luo ( CAU) ; 1♀, Qinghai province, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Haibei , Menyuan Hui Autonomous County, Xianmi National Forest Park. 9.viii.2013, Xinyu Luo ( CAU) .

Remarks. This species was described by Tian & Liu in 2011 only by the male specimens; in this paper we describe the female specimen and the new distributions in China for the first time. W. helanensis is similar to W. sufuensis , but obviously different in many characteristics, there is no brown stripe along the middle gradate series in forewing in W. helanensis , but they present in W. sufuensis ; in W. helanensis the mediucus of gonarcus is slender and paramediuncus curved upwards as a hook while in W. sufuensis the mediucus is short and paramediuncus extend backward; the terminal lobe of parabaculum in W. helanensis expanded distally and rolled up, with a transparent small hook present in the end while in W. sufuensis the distal of terminal lobe extended in to a upward hook. W. helanensis is also similar to W. baikalensis , while considering the color of head, it can be easily distinguished, all the areas before antennae in head are dark brown in W. baikalensis , while in W. helanensis only the frons before the antennae are obviously dark brown.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Wings. 3. W. helanensis Tian & Liu, 2011.

FIGURES 20 – 27. W. helanensis Tian & Liu, 2011. 20. Male terminalia, lateral view; 21. Gonarcus, lateral view; 22. Ditto, dorsal view; 23. Parabaculum, dorsal view; 24. Ditto, lateral view; 25. Hypandrium internum, ventral view. 26. Female terminalia, lateral view; 27. Ditto, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.