Syngenes maritimus ( Needham, 1913 )

Mansell, Mervyn W., 2018, Antlions of southern Africa: Syngenes Kolbe, 1897, with descriptions of two new species and comments on extra-limital taxa (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Acanthaclisini), Zootaxa 4497 (3), pp. 346-380 : 373-375

Syngenes maritimus ( Needham, 1913)

Figs 80–87 .

Acanthaclisis maritimus Needham, 1913: 244 . 4426. Ohm & Hölzel 1995: 8. 8376 (Incorrect synonymy with S. longicornis ). Syngenes maritimus (Needham) : Stange 2004: 360. 11168.

Type depository: BMNH. 1♂ 1♀ Syntypes.

Type locality: Aldabra Atoll, 09°25’36”S 46°13’06”E, Seychelles.

Diagnosis. Characterized by biaereolate cells from Rs to pterostigma, with the bottom row of cells (along Sc) being regular and evenly spaced. This sets it apart from its African congeners where the cells are more irregular and not as evenly spaced. There are a variable number of biaereolate cells (0–5) before Rs. This appears to be a variable character in S. maritimus . It can be distinguished from S. medialis by the number of biaereolate cells immediately after Rs, well before Rs2 that are usually lacking in S. medialis . The evenly curved spurs clearly distinguish it from S. longicornis with which it was synonymized by Ohm & Hölzel (1995), without substantiation.

Distribution. Aldabra Island and Madagascar.

Comments. Needham (1913) recorded four specimens in the original description, all from Aldabra Island, Seychelles, collected by J.C.F. Fryer in 1908. Only two of the specimens remain in BMNH. The other two, including the specimen photographed by Needham (1913, Fig. 2 ) have been on loan since 2001 and possibly lost. Photographs of the remaining two, a male with terminalia detached in a vial with the specimen, and a female are available ( Figs 80, 81 ). In the absence of the specimen photographed by Needham, the male depicted in Fig. 80 , and labelled as below, is designated as lectotype of Syngenes maritimus Needham.

Type material examined. SEYCHELLES, Aldabra Island . Photographs. 1♂ Syntype, Syngenes maritimus Needham ( Fig. 80 ), labelled “ Syn-type (round label with blue border) / Seychelle Islands, Percy Sladen Trust Expedition, 1913–170 / NHMUK010288440 ” + Barcode icon. Male terminalia in separate vial ( BMNH) ; 1♀ Syntype Syngenes maritimus Needham ( Fig. 81 ), labelled “ Syn-type (round label with blue border) / Aldabra, 1908, J.C.Fryer / Seychelle Islands , Percy Sladen Trust Expedition (remainder obscured) / NHMUK010288439 ” + Barcode icon. ( BMNH).

Additional material examined. MADAGASCAR. 2♀ Madagascar, Vadon, no further data (specimens in poor condition) ( MRAC); 1♀ Madagascar, Sud, Schouteden, no further data ( MRAC); 1♂ Fort Dauphin 5 km W, 25°02’56”S 46°57’39”E, 25m, 21.iv.1991, A.Freidberg, F.Kaplan, NEUR 11839 (terminalia defective) ( SANC).

Figures

FIGURES 80–81. Syngenes maritimus. 80, male Syntype; 81, female Syntype. Photos: B. Price (BMNH).

FIGURES 82, 82a, 83, 83a. Syngenes dolichocercus. 82, female Holotype; 82a, associated labels; 83, male Paratype; 83a, associated labels. Photos: A. Mantilleri (NMHN).

FIGURES 84–87. Syngenes species. Comparative forewing wing venation of types: 84, S. maritimus, female Syntype; 85, S. maritimus, male Syntype; 86, Syngenes dolichocercus, female Holotype; 87, Syngenes dolichocercus, male Paratype. Photos: B. Price (BMNH) and A. Mantilleri (NMHN).

FIGURES 1–2. Syngenes longicornis (Rambur). 1, male habitus NEUR11837 (forewing length 42 mm); 2, female habitus NEUR11833 (forewing length 42 mm), showing wing pattern variation.