Crambomorphus namibicus, Mansell, 2018

Mansell, Mervyn W., 2018, Antlions of southern Africa: genus Crambomorphus McLachlan, 1867, including extra-limital species (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Palparinae: Palparini), Zootaxa 4382 (3), pp. 465-500 : 478-482

Crambomorphus namibicus sp. nov.

Figs 29–39 , 74 , 78 , 82 , 89 , 92

Etymology. Derived from the country Namibia, the centre of distribution of this species.

Description. Based on holotype male, 4 male, 9 female paratypes.

Habitus ( Figs 29, 30 ). Similar to C. sinuatus and C. kalaharicus , but easily distinguished by the angular projection on the hind margin of the forewing, narrower wings with fainter sinuate stripe along forewing hind margin than the former and wider wings than the latter, as well as more dense thoracic vestiture. Crambomorphus namibicus has more numerous biaereolate cells in the costal areas than C. sinuatus , and is also distinguished by the black posterior margin of the pronotum.

Head: wider than prothorax, vertex raised, pale brown, densely speckled with black maculae and clothed with dense white recumbent setae; median black stripe extends from vertex broadening posteriorly over prothorax; frons yellow with recumbent white setae; clypeus and labrum yellow. Eyes large, greater than hemispherical. Antennae longer than head width, black, almost devoid of setae, antennal toruli greater than scape diameter apart, scape bearing long white setae. Palps black, labial palps clavate with short tip, covered with black setae, palpimacula slitlike extending to, but not over apex ( Fig. 89 ).

Thorax: prothorax short, much wider than long, pale yellowish-brown with central black stripe, a small spot on either side, lateral margins black, anterior margin raised, finely spotted, with dense fringe of long white anteriorlydirected setae, hind margin raised, black posteriorly with sparse long white setae. Mesothorax covered with dense long white pubescence, a central black stripe divided posteriorly, black patches above wing bases obscured by setae. Metathorax mostly black with long white recumbent setae and black velvet patches anteriorly.

Wings: narrow, marked with brown, hind margins of both fore- and hindwings characteristically sinuate, with acute falcate tips ( Figs 29, 30 , 74 ); crossveins pale yellow, wing veins devoid of setae, except for short dense fringe of short black hairs along C; hypostigmatic cells long; pterostigma miniscule, hardly discernible. Forewings with four small light-brown patches; basal patch diffuse, apical patch divided, posterior margin with narrow sinuate faint brown stripe in apical half; hind margin with distinct characteristic angular projection ( Fig 29, 30 , 74 ). Costal area with biaereolate or bifurcate costal cells before Rs but highly variable (1–15); R and CuA marked with black and yellow, all veins beyond Rs unbranched; Rs arises beyond CuA fork, presectoral veins irregularly biaereolate; Mp2 (oblique vein) arises beyond Rs; CuP not fused with A1. Hind wings brown with three pale patches and pale areas basally; biaereolate costal cells varying between 0–9; R and Mp black, Rs arises at same level as Mp fork; presectoral crossveins biaereolate, CuA arches forward at junction with posterior branch of Mp fork; CuP forks close to base, anterior branch arches and runs freely to hind margin, posterior branch fused with A1.

Legs: black, densely covered with recumbent short white and spinose black setae; forelegs with dense setal brush on tibiae, tibiae longer than tarsi in all legs, tibial spurs slender, black, curved, extending to Ta2; tarsi pitch black, shiny, Ta1–Ta4 short, Ta5 long, approximately equal to combined length of Ta1–Ta4; pretarsal claws longer than Ta1–Ta2, black, slightly curved.

Abdomen: shorter than hind wings, red in living specimens, covered with short black setae, with some long white pubescence and setae on T1 and T2. Male ( Figs 31–38 ) with T9 divided, sternite IX ( Fig. 35 ) with round smooth apex; Ectoprocts ( Figs 31–34 ) black, curved, cylindrical, apices incrassate, with short white setae dorsally, long black setae laterally, dense pad of stout curved black spines on inner surfaces and two stout spines basally; gonarcus and parameres ( Figs 36–38 ) fused into a rigid cone-shaped structure, parameres sclerotized, shiny black with medial tuft of sensory setae gonarcal bulla strongly pronounced ( Fig. 38 ), hypandrium internum lightly sclerotized, keel-shaped. Female (cf. Figs 13–15 ) with rounded ectoprocts bearing stout fossorial spines; lateral gonapohyses fused together forming a triangular shape with stout fossorial spines; anterior gonapophyses rounded with long slender setae; pregenitalae (cf. Fig. 51 ) triangular, sclerotized; spermatheca (cf. Fig. 52 ) slender, coiled, tapering distally with delicate short setae in distal region.

Larva ( Fig. 39 ). Mature third instar larva about 30 mm in length from tip of mandibles. Mandibles black with three internal teeth. Head slightly wider than long, rusty-red centrally, paler laterally and posteriorly, sparsely covered with short setae. Eyes comprising six facets on prominent tubercles. Prothorax pale reddish with broad central band. Meso- and Metathorax creamy white with two irregularly-shaped bands on either side of midline, with red spots over wing buds. Legs pale. Abdomen creamy white with row of interconnected black spots along pale midline, with two similar rows laterally as depicted in Fig. 39 ; sternite 8 bearing distinct sclerotized fossoria (digging appendages). Very little is known of its biology, except that larvae were excavated by sieving in deep sand.

Distribution ( Fig. 92 ). This species is widespread throughout Namibia, extending to the northernmost parts of the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

Type material examined. NAMIBIA: Holotype ♂, Karibib , 27.57S 15.47E, 6.xii.1988, R.B.&W.Miller, NEUR02377 . Paratypes: 1♂ 3♀, (1♀ with wings folded), same data as Holotype ; 1♀, Helmeringhausen , 25.53S 16.49E, 1400m, 17.ii.1988, H. Rausch, NEUR01000 ; 1♂, Velloorsdrift , 28.45S 19.15E, 25.xi.1992, E.Holm, NEUR02375 ; 1♂ 1♀, Ameib Ranch , 21.48S 15.39E, 1000m, 7.xii.1988, R.B.&W.Miller, NEUR02376 ; 2♀, Waldhausen-Süd Farm , 21.48S 16.15E, 27.xii.1996, R.G.Oberprieler, NEUR02387 ; 1♀, Van Zyls Pass , 17.38S 12.44E, 24.xii.2002, H.&D.Bodenstein, NEUR06067 ; 1♀, Naukluft , 24.10S 16.10E, 1300m, 25.xii.1999, C.Deschodt, NEUR08965 . SOUTH AFRICA. 1♀, Koms Farm, Keimoes, 28.44.08S 20.56.15E, 730m, 27.xii.2013, P.de Vos, NEUR12051 .

Additional material. NAMIBIA: 1♀, Okahandja , 21.58.59S 16.54.48E, 1345m, 12.xii.1927, R.E.Turner, BMNH00039 ( BMNH) ; 1♀, same locality but 15.xii.1958, F.Gaerdes, SMWN00008 ( SMWN) ; 1♂, same locality and collector but 31.x.1960, SMWN00009 ( SMWN) ; 1♂, same locality but 10.x.1936, No collector name, TMSA00448 ( TMSA) ; 1♀, Naukluft , 24.10S 16.10E, 7.xii.1933, K. Jordan , 7.xii.1933, BMNH00040 (BMNH); 1♀, Windhoek, 22.34S 17.04E, 1700m, K.Jordan, BMNH00041 (BMNH); 1♂, same locality but 30.x.1991, M.Pusch, SMWN00013 ; 1♂ 1♀, Tsams Ost Spring , 24.14S 16.06E, 26.xi.1997, A.Kirk-Spriggs, E.Marais, SMWN00006 ; 1♂ 2♀, Naukluft Spring , 24.15S 16.14E, 28.xi.1997, same collectors, SMWN00007 ; 1♀, Welwitchia , 20.22S 14.56E, 17.ii.1966, W.J.Smit, SMWN00010 ; 1♂, Daan Viljoen Game Reserve , 22.36S 16.47E, 11.xi.1984, A.O.Dias, SMWN00011 ; 1♂, 13 km W Namutoni , 18.46S 16.48E, 27.iii.1988, E.Griffin, SMWN00012 (All SMWN) ; 3♀, Schönfeld 92, 21.10S 15.57E, 1500, 8.i.1996, K.&F.Adlbauer, HHCA00003 ( HHCA) .

Figures

FIGURE 39. Crambomorphus namibicus n.sp. Third instar larva.Photo:R.G. Oberprieler©

FIGURE 92. Recorded distribution of Crambomorphus species in southern Africa.Map:C.Deschodt.

FIGURES29–30. Crambomorphus namibicus n.sp.29, male Holotype habitus (Forewing length 68 mm); 30, female Paratype habitus (forewing length 73 mm).

FIGURES 31–35. Crambomorphus namibicus n.sp. Male terminalia: 31, lateral; 32, ventral, 33, dorsal; 34, Ectoproct spines profile; 35, Sternite 9 detail.

FIGURES 36–38. Crambomorphus namibicus n.sp. Male Gonarcus & Parameres complex: 36, dorsal; 37, dorso-caudal; 38, lateral.

FIGURES 72–75. Wing profiles of southern African Crambomorphus species. 72, C. sinuatus; 73, C. kalaharicus; 74, C. namibicus; 75, C. karrooanus. Arrows indicate distinguishing features.

FIGURES 76–79. Dorsal wing patterns of southern African Crambomorphus species. 76, C. sinuatus; 77, C. kalaharicus; 78, C.namibicus; 79, C.karrooanus.

FIGURES 80–85. Crambomorphus species: comparative Gonarcus & Parameres lateral profiles: 80, C. sinuatus; 81, C. kalaharicus; 82, C. namibicus; 83, C. karrooanus; 84, C. madagascariensis; 85, C.grandidieri.

FIGURES 86–91. Crambomorphus species:comparative Labial palps:86, C. sinuatus; 87, C. karrooanus; 88, C. kalaharicus; 89, C. namibicus; 90, C. madagascariensis; 91, C. grandidieri.

FIGURES 13–15. Crambomorphus sinuatus. Female terminalia: 13, lateral; 14, ventral; 15, Pregenitale ventral. Epr = Ectoproct;Ga = Anterior Gonapophyses, Gl = Lateral Gonapophyses, Prg= Pregenitale, T9 = Tergite 9.

FIGURES 51–52. Crambomorphus karrooanus. Female: 51, Pregenitale and Anterior Gonapophyses ventral; 52, Spermatheca.