Myrmeleon alticolus Miller and Stange, 1999

Lin, Yu-Hsiu, Liao, Jhih-Rong & Ko, Chiun-Cheng, 2021, Fig. 5 in Periclimenaeus karantina Park & De Grave 2021, sp. nov., Zoological Studies 60 (39), pp. 1-24 : 7

Myrmeleon alticolus Miller and Stange, 1999 ( Figs. 3B , 4B , 6 )

Description of 3rd instar larva: Size: Average body length 9.88 mm (7.34–11.92); head length 2.53 mm (2.24–2.77), head width 2.14 mm (1.95–2.37), mandible length 2.95 mm (2.60–3.18), ratio head width/ length 0.85, ratio mandible length/head length 1.17.

General coloring: Ochre, with dark brown markings, ventral side paler.

Head: Sub-rectangular, longer than wide. Sparsely covered with black setae. Ocular tubercle sessile. Mandibles slender, reddish brown, slightly longer than the head capsule, provided with 3 equidistant teeth with the apical tooth slightly stronger. Interdental mandibular setae: (6–10) (2–4) (1–3) (1). Clypeo-labrum with pointed setae. External margin of the mandible with a fringe of long setae, dorsal side of the mandible covered with short setae, ventral side of the mandible with a covering of short setae on both external and internal to the maxilla, reaching the basal tooth. Labial palpus 4-articulated, with fringe of black setae underneath, few extending over labial palpus. Dorsal side of the head capsule with a dark medial band on the clypeo-labrum, followed by a pair of dark brown spots on the anterior side of head capsule, posterior side with a pair of dark, triangular markings, posterior margin with pale markings extending toward the lateral side of the head. Lateral side of the head with a faint brown V-shaped band near the middle, connecting dorsal and ventral head markings, and a dark spot on the posterior side. Ventral side of the head with an anterior pair of pale brown triangular spots and a pair of outwardly curved pale brown band covering the posterior half, extending toward the lateral side of the head.

Thorax: Pronotum with a pair of broad brown stripes, covered with short setae. Body setae black.

Legs: Pale brown, hind legs with brown spots on the apical end of coxae and femur.

Abdomen: Setae black. VIII abdominal sternite with a pair of black spots, odontoid processes distinct, posterior margin with hair-like setae. IX abdominal sternite elongated, with a pair of outwardly curved dark brown stripes, covered with hair-like setae, digging setae absent, or with few reduced digging setae. Rastra sessile, each bearing up to 4 peg-like digging setae with the external ones longer, 1 seta on the external side.

Materials examined: Taiwan. Chiayi County. Alishan, Alishan Township / 21. VIII. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 4 L3. Hsinchu County. Smangus, Jianshi Township / 19. VIII. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3. Hualien County. Pattonkuan Historic Trail, Zhuoxi Township / 28. I. 2020 / Y. Sun leg., 1 L3. Nantou County. Fenghuang Mountain, Lugu township / 21. XI. 2020 / K. W. Chan leg., 1 L3; same locality / 28. XI. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 2 L3. Highland Experimental Farm N.T.U., Meifeng Farm, Renai Township / 15. V. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L1, 1 L3; same locality / 16. V. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L2; same locality / 17. V. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 2 L3. Taoyuan City. Daguan Mountain, Fuxing District / 10. VII. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 7 L3.

Bio-ecology: This species was found in forests above 1,600 m. a.s.l.. The larvae build pitfall in protected environments such as under rock overhangs, under artificial buildings, underneath the root of trees, or inside hollows of giant trees ( Fig. 1A ). This species curl up the body when disturbed, like B. asakurae and M. bimaculatus .

Distribution: Endemic to Taiwan.

Remarks: See remarks for B. asakurae . The larvae of M. alticolus and B. asakurae were observed to be similar in morphology, thus, the placement of M. alticolus is to be revised.

Figures

Fig. 3. Head of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini of Taiwan, ventral view; A, Baliga asakurae; B, Myrmeleon alticolus; C, Myrmeleon bimaculatus; D, Myrmeleon heppneri; E, Myrmeleon littoralis; F, Myrmeleon persimilis; G, Myrmeleon punctinervis; H, Myrmeleon taiwanensis; I, Myrmeleon wangi. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. IX abdominal sternite of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini of Taiwan, ventral view; A, Baliga asakurae; B, Myrmeleon alticolus; C, Myrmeleon bimaculatus; D, Myrmeleon heppneri; E, Myrmeleon littoralis; F, Myrmeleon persimilis; G, Myrmeleon punctinervis; H, Myrmeleon taiwanensis; I, Myrmeleon wangi. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 6. Myrmeleon alticolus Miller and Stange, 1999, 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

Fig. 1. Habitats of the Myrmeleontini larvae, A, Underneath trunks of giant woods (M. alticolus). B, On open sand dunes (M. persimilis). C, Underneath rock overhangs (M. taiwanensis). D, Underneath artificial buildings (M. wangi).