Ganguilus pallescens Navás, 1912

Michel, Bruno & Mansell, Mervyn W., 2010, Revision of the genus Ganguilus Navás (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae) with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 2386, pp. 1-24 : 4-6

Ganguilus pallescens Navás, 1912

( Figs 1–8 )

Diagnosis

Medium-sized species with very slender legs. Body coloration yellowish with brown markings. Wings hyaline without markings. Male abdomen distinctly longer than female abdomen and longer than wings ( Fig. 1 ).

Redescription

Size (mm). Forewing: 3 28–36, Ƥ 33–37; hind wing: 3 25–33, Ƥ 30–34; length of body: 3 35–46, Ƥ 29–34; length of abdomen: 3 29–36, Ƥ 21–26.

Head. Face yellowish with slender shiny white setae, a variable brown mark extends ventrally from between the antennal toruli; frons dark brown. Vertex with two latero-posterior yellowish markings. Antennae brown. Maxillary and labial palps yellowish.

Thorax. Pronotum yellowish with a broad median brown stripe with an occasional incomplete narrow longitudinal yellowish line extending from anterior to posterior margin; lateral margin bordered with a brown stripe extending from anterior groove to posterior margin. Mesoprescutum brown with two lateral yellowish spots along hind margin; mesoscutum brown in anterior half; mesoscutellum with a brown spot. Metanotum largely coloured with brown. Pleurites with large brown markings especially above middle coxae. Upper margin of meso and metabasisternite bordered with broad yellow stripe. Pronotum, mesonotum and pleurites bearing erect slender white setae.

Legs. Forelegs: coxa with variable brown spot extending along anterior surface; trochanter yellowish; femur, tibia and tarsus brown; tibial spurs as long as T1+2; claws brown, curved apically. Middle legs: coxa sometimes with basal brown spot on outer surface; trochanter yellowish; femora and tibiae with anterior surfaces brown; tibial spurs and claws as in foreleg. Hind legs: similar to middle legs but with brown marking extending variably onto posterior surface of femora and tibiae; tibial spurs reaching middle of T2 only; femoral brush in males with 27 (smallest individuals) to 47 (largest individuals) setae ( Fig. 2 ), the number of setae can vary slightly in the same individual from one femur to the other.

Wings. Narrow and acute; veins pale with C, SC and R darker; stigma pale yellow. In forewing 5–7 crossveins between R and MP before origin of RS; RS arising beyond CuA fork.

Abdomen. Tergites I to VII brown with broad yellowish stripe along lateral margin, the width of these markings decreases progressively from anterior to posterior extremity forming a triangular area especially on tergites III, IV, and V of the male. Tergites II to V of males covered with short black spines turning progressively into slender setae from apical fourth of tergite V. Apex of abdomen brown. Male ectoprocts slightly projected backwards. Parameres long slender ( Figs 3–5 ). Female with gonapophyseal plates long, slightly enlarged apically, with an irregular posterior margin ( Figs 6–8 ).

Material examined

NIGERIA: HOLOTYPE Ƥ [abdomen in micro vial]. Type [p]/ Typus [h]/N. Nigeria [p]* Zungeru [09°48’N 06°09’E] [p]* oct.1910 [crossed out] [p]* J.W. Scott. Macfié [p]* 1911-417 [crossed out] 444]/ Ganguilus [h]* pallescens [h]* Nav. [h]/ ( BMNH); 1Ƥ, same data but Nov. 1910. Samaru [09°45’N 08°22’E], 13, (no date), P.H.Ward ( BMNH). SAUDI ARABIA: Mecca [21°25’N 39°49’E], 1Ƥ, 28.xi.1972, A. Harvey ( BMNH). MAURITANIA: Nouakchott [18°07’N 16°02’W], 13, x.1948, A. Villiers ( BMNH). MALI: Sikasso [11°21’N 05°41’W], 23, 20.x.1996; 13, 25.x.1995; 23, 29.x.1997; 13, 30.x.1996; 1Ƥ, 1.xi.1995; 1Ƥ, 1.xi.1996; 1Ƥ, 12.xi.1996; 1Ƥ, 14.xi.1996. Sikasso area (11 km North of city direction Longorola), 13, 20.x.1995; 33 4Ƥ, 24.x.1995; 1Ƥ, 28.x.1999; 13, 20.xi.1996. Natiékoura (25 km east of Sikasso), 13, 16.x.1997; 1Ƥ, 6.xi.1995. Farako Falls (35 km west of Sikasso), 1Ƥ, 11.xi.1998; 1Ƥ 17.xi.1995. Foulalaba [10°40’N 07°22’W], 13, 25.x.1996. GUINEA: Bordo [near Kankan, 10°23’N 09°18’ W], 13 1Ƥ, 22.xi.1995, light trap. BURKINA FASO: Folonzo [09°56’N 04°40’W], 13, 23.x.2003 (All B. Michel leg.) ( CIRAD). Bala, Forêt Classée de la Mare aux Hippopotames [11°32′N 04°07′E], 13 1Ƥ, 17.x.1997, A.J.Gardiner, SANC Database no. NEUR 03703 ( SANC).

Distribution

Widely distributed throughout West Africa and the middle-east ( Fig. 51 ). Recorded from Algeria ( Navás 1918), Egypt, Israel, Iran, Libya, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia ( Stange 2004), Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso (new records). Niger as origin of the holotype ( Hölzel 1972) is erroneous.

Figures

FIGURE 51. Distribution of Ganguilus species.

FIGURES 1 – 2. Ganguilus pallescens male. 1 — Habitus; 2 — Femoral brushes.

FIGURES 3 – 5. Ganguilus pallescens male. 3 — Right ectoproct; 4 — Genitalia, right view; 5 — id., ventral view.

FIGURES 6 – 8. Ganguilus pallescens female. 6 — Abdomen extremity, dorsal view; 7 — id., left view. 8 — id., ventral view (gp: gonapophyseal plate).