Vella fallax (Rambur)

Stange, Lionel A. & uary, Jan, 2010, Preliminary report on the Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera) of Paraguay, Insecta Mundi 2010 (114), pp. 1-14 : 9-10

17. Vella fallax (Rambur)

Myrmeleon fallax Rambur 1842: 385 . Type, “La Guyane ” (not located).

Biology. Hagen 1873: 266-269, Redtenbacher 1884: 17; Stange and Miller 1985: 39, figure 10, 21 (larva).

Known distribution. Argentina; Brazil; Costa Rica; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; U.S.A.; Venezuela.

Diagnosis. Adult: Fore femur and mid femur with two equal and elongate sense hairs; hind femur with elongate sense hair; hind wing vein CuA unites with posterior fork of MP2 shortly after fork; hind wing without indication of Banksian line; tarsal claws strongly arched near base; tibial spurs strongly curved; male abdomen with hair pencils. Coloration: Hind wing subcostal area not marked; fore wing costal area mostly dark brown at basal one-half. Larva: Mandible with three sharp pointed teeth, with longest setae on exterior margin less than one-half greatest mandibular width; labial palpus shorter than basal width of mandible; mesothoracic spiracle not borne on tubercle; head without dolichasters; sternite VIII without teeth on subapical margin; pitfall traps absent; backward movement only.