Myrmeleon bore (Tjeder, 1941)

Badano, Davide & Pantaleoni, Roberto Antonio, 2014, The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera), Zootaxa 3762 (1), pp. 1-71 : 57

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:68E063AB-2C09-4FCA-8761-FBC73D562990
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4909554
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/314A4C26-9C40-2A0A-EFC1-5F88FBD55876
treatment provided by	Felipe (2021-06-08 00:08:26, last updated 2024-11-29 10:43:47)
scientific name	Myrmeleon bore (Tjeder, 1941)
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Myrmeleon bore (Tjeder, 1941) View in CoL

( Figs. 5D View FIGURE 5 , 6D View FIGURE 6 , 29 View FIGURE 29 )

The first observations of the larva of this antion predate the species description ( Schenck 1877; Dewitz 1882) while the first actual description dates back to almost a century later ( Friheden 1973). It was redescribed by Matsura (1987) and Nicoli Aldini (2007), who compared it with closely related species. This species is finally treated in some monographic volumes ( Gepp & Hölzel 1989; Gepp 2010; Krivokhatsky 2011).

Examined specimens. Germany. Mecklenburg Vorpommern , Graal Müritz, VI.2011 (C. Kehlmaier), 3 L3 .

Italy. Lombardy, Pieve Albignola (Pavia), Cascinotto Mensa , IX.1979 ( R. Nicoli Aldini), 2 L3 . Lombardy, Casterno (Milano), Ticino River , V.2012 (D. Piccolino), 1 L3 .

Description of 3 rd instar larva. Size (based on 6 specimens): BL 8.31 mm; HL 2.06 mm (1.90–2.20), HW 1.74 mm (1.61–1.84), ML 2.25 mm (2.13–2.34), HW/HL 0.84, ML/HL 1.09. General colouring pale brown mottled with dark brown, ventrally very pale with dark brown spots; dorsal side of the head capsule with large markings on the clypeo-labrum and posterior V-shaped marking, lateral sides of the head with dark markings, ventral side of the head pale with a pair of median dark spots ( Figs. 5D View FIGURE 5 , 29c View FIGURE 29 ); mandibles pale brown with a dark apex; legs pale; setae of the body black. Head longer than wide; mandibles slightly longer than the head capsule ( Fig. 29a View FIGURE 29 ); interdental mandibular setae: (~5)(2–3)(2–3)(1); ventral side of the mandible with few setae at the base; labial palpi 3-articulated ( Figs. 5D View FIGURE 5 , 29b View FIGURE 29 ). IX abdominal sternite with sparse ventral digging setae, followed by an anterior row of digging setae and two sessile rastra each bearing 4 bristles ( Figs. 6D View FIGURE 6 , 29d View FIGURE 29 ).

Bio-ecology. M. bore lives in fresh environments and it is absent from areas influenced by a Mediterranean climate. M. bore is associated with sandy biotopes such as coastal dunes, river banks and internal sand deposits. The pits are built in exposed conditions, although the first stages are often found in proximity of vegetation.

Distribution. Widespread in the Palaearctic, from western Europe eastward to Japan.

Remarks. The larva of M. bore is the only known European antlion with 3 palpomeres. This species is similar to M. inconspicuus and to the non sympatric M. mariaemathildae in overall morphology; it is differentiated by the larger dimensions and the relative proportions of the mandibles and the head capsule.

References

Dewitz, H. (1882) Ueber die Fuhrung an den Korperanhangen der Insecten, speciell betrachtet an der Legescheide der Acridier, dem Stachel der Meliponen und der Mundtheilen der Larve von Myrmeleon, nebst Beschreibung dieser Organe. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 26, 51 - 68.

Friheden, J. (1973) Morphological characteristics of North-European myrmeleontid larvae (Neuroptera). Entomologica Scandinavica, 4, 30 - 34. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1163 / 187631273 x 00039

Gepp, J. & Holzel, H. (1989) Ameisenlowen und Ameisenjungfern. Myrmeleonidae. Die Neue Brehm-Bucherei 589. A. Ziemsen Verlag, Wittenberg Lutherstadt, 108 pp. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1002 / mmnd. 19900370105

Gepp, J. (2010) Ameisenlowen und Ameisenjungfern. Myrmeleontidae. Eine weltweite Betrachtung unter besonderer Berucksichtigung Mitteleuropas. 3., neubearbeitete Auflage. Die Neue Brehm-Bucherei 589. Westarp Wissenschaften- Verlagsgesellschaft, Hohenwarsleben, Germany, 168 pp.

Krivokhatsky, V. A. (2011) Antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) of Russia. KMK, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 334 pp.

Matsura, T. (1987) Nomenclature of the Japanese pit-building antlions (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae). Kontyu, 55, 543 - 548.

Nicoli Aldini, R. (2007) Observations on the larval morphology of the antlion Myrmeleon bore (Tjeder, 1941) (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae) and its life cycle in the Po Valley (northern Italy). In: Pantaleoni, R. A., Letardi, A. & Corazza, C. (Eds.), Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Neuropterology (20 - 23 June 2005, Ferrara, Italy). Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Ferrara, 8, 59 - 66.

Schenck, A. (1877) Eine neue Myrmeleon - Larve von Mombach in Rheinhessen. Entomologische Nachrichten, 3, 93.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Head of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini, ventral view; A, Myrmeleon formicarius; B, Myrmeleon gerlindae; C, Myrmeleon punicanus; D, Myrmeleon bore; E, Myrmeleon inconspicuus; F, Myrmeleon mariaemathildae; G, Myrmeleon hyalinus; H, Myrmeleon fasciatus; I, Euroleon nostras.

FIGURE 6. IX abdominal sternite of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini, ventral view; A, Myrmeleon gerlindae; B, Myrmeleon punicanus; C, Myrmeleon formicarius; D, Myrmeleon bore; E, Myrmeleon inconspicuus; F, Myrmeleon mariaemathildae; G, Myrmeleon hyalinus; H, Myrmeleon fasciatus; I, Euroleon nostras. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 29. Myrmeleon bore (Tjeder, 1941), 3rd instar larva (Germany: Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Graal Müritz). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–d: diagnostic characters, see species description.