Maracandula puebla Miller and Stange, 2009

Miller, Robert B. & Stange, Lionel A., 2009, A revision of the genus Maracandula Currie (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (101), pp. 1-10 : 6-7

Maracandula puebla Miller and Stange , new species

( Figure 9-13 )

Types. Male holotype (FSCA) and 6 m, 5 f paratypes: 13 km. northeast Zapotitlán, Puebla, Mexico, 5.X.1986, R. Miller and L. Stange (FSCA). Additional paratype: Teyuca, Puebla, Mexico, 1524 m, 1.XI.1976, E. Ross (1 f, CASC).

Diagnosis. Ocular width about one-sixth interocular width, eye separated from antennal pedicel by onehalf pedicel diameter; labial palpus with distal palpomere moderately swollen; pronotum about 1.5 times wider than long; basitarsus of hind leg equal to distal tarsomere; distal tarsomere on fore and mid legs about 1.5 times longer than basitarsus; pterostigma of both wings yellowish, membrane distal to stigma brown suffused in anterior one-fourth, basad to stigma not suffused with brown; fore wing with only two cells beyond hypostigmatic cell which is less than twice as long as greatest height.

Description. Length to apex of tergite IX 12 mm; fore wing 12 mm; hind wing 11 mm. General coloration dark to light brown, face pale with dark markings; submedian bands extending from antennal fossae to labrum; stripes contiguous near middle and extended laterally below and toward middle of eyes; interantennal mark continuous with expansive epicranial mark; labrum dark brown with median pale stripe; anterior row of vertex markings consisting of a lateral dash and triangular spot at middle which extends posteriorly to posterior median mark, continuous with epicranial mark laterally; middle row with large stripe laterad of middle, posteriorly with central dark brown triangular and lateral stripes. Antenna with basal five flagellomeres half dark brown and half pale, and distal nine all pale; pronotum with broad submedian stripe bifurcating at furrow with many dark brown spots at bases of pale setae in pale regions; mesoscutellum dark brown with pale anterior lateral patches; fore coxa mostly pale straw colored with small basal dark brown spots and dot near middle of lateral face; femur and tibia pale with prominent dark brown spotting at setal bases; tibia with series of dark ring-like dark brown marks, both wings mostly clear with suffused pale brown areas anteriorly beyond yellow stigmal mark ( Figure 9 ); abdomen pale brown with small dark brown markings at setal bases. Chaetotaxy: Pronotum, mesonotum and abdomen with elongate bristles; scutelli with outstanding bristles. Structure: Fourteen flagellomeres ( Figure 10 ); ocular width one-sixth interocular distance measured anteriorly; ocular rim separated from antennal pedicel by one-half pedicel diameter; distal palpomere weakly swollen; pronotum about l.5 times wider than long; basitarsus of hind leg equal in length to distal tarsomere; distal tarsomere on fore and mid leg about 1.5 times longer than basitarsus; wing tips evenly overlapping in repose; fore wing with only two cells beyond hypostigmatic cell which is less than twice as long as greatest height; male genitalia as in Figure 12 .

Female. Terminalia as in Figure 13 .

Discussion. Length to apex of tergite IX about 14 to 17 mm in both sexes. Adults were seen flying in the afternoon in a rocky area with numerous grasses and scrubby plants.

Figures

Figure 9-13. Maracandula puebla. 9) Habitus photo of adult. 10) Frontal view of head. 11) Mid and hind legs. 12) Male genitalia. 13) Female terminalia.