Puer maculatus (Olivier, 1789)

Badano, Davide & Pantaleoni, Roberto Antonio, 2014, The Larvae of European Ascalaphidae (Neuroptera), Zootaxa 3796 (2), pp. 287-319 : 295-297

Puer maculatus (Olivier, 1789)

( Figs. 1C , 2C , 3C , 5 )

Description of Hagen (1873) effectively refers to this peculiar and rare species, despite his identification was mainly based on geographical assumptions thus it was considered doubtful by later authors (H. Aspöck et al. 1980).

Examined specimens. France. Hérault , Argelliers, Les Hauts de Boscorre, holm oak wood on calcareous rocks, VI.2011 (B. Michel & D. Badano), 2 L3 .

Description of 3 rd instar larva. Size (based on 2 specimens): BL 10.43 mm; HL 2.21 mm (2.12–2.30), HW 3.24 mm (3.23–3.25), ML 2.60 mm (2.59–2.62), HW/HL 1.47, ML/HL 1.17. General colouring ochre with grey markings and spots, ventral side noticeably paler, mottled with grey; dorsal side of the head capsule light brown, ventral side of the head light brown with a dark area on the mouthparts, mandibles brown; legs ochre; setae black, most dolichasters grey. Head rectangular, dorsal side with a narrow posterior depression; long setae are present at the base of the forward-placed ocular tubercles ( Fig. 5b ); mandibles narrow, close at the base ( Fig. 5c ), longer than the head capsule ( Fig. 5a ); basal tooth equidistant between the base of the mandible and median tooth; interdental pseudo-teeth (4–3)(4–3)(0); thin and hair-like dolichasters are present at the base of the mandible; external margin of mandible equipped with short setae, longer toward the base. Pronotum covered with short dolichasters; mesothoracic spiracles black; anterior pair of mesothoracic scoli-like processes very large, bent at 90° ( Fig. 5d ). First pair of abdominal spiracles dorsally disposed, black in colour ( Fig. 5e ); the following seven pairs disposed ventrally; dorsal series of abdominal scolus-like processes positioned on the lower sides of the body, in contact with the substrate ( Fig. 5f ).

Bio-ecology. P. maculatus is associated with open Mediterranean biotopes with isolated trees or scrubs on extensive barren rocky areas. The investigated site is characterized by thick hedges of holm oaks interspersed with wide surfaces of cracked limestone. The larvae live adhering to the inferior surface of flat stones, normally disposed under larger rocks. The cocoon is spun and fixed in the same condition. The larva is extremely motionless and it is camouflaged by the fine rock dust retained by the dolichasters. The larval and pupal stages were both collected during the first decade of June, just before the known flight period in the area ( Michel & Kral 2008).

Distribution. P. maculatus has been reported for southern France, Iberian Peninsula and Israel.

Remarks. The larva of P. maculatus , the only member of the genus whose larva is known, is remarkable due to the flattened habitus and peculiar morphology, noticeably differing from the other European Ascalaphidae .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Taxonomic characters of Ascalaphidae larvae. A, Deleproctophylla australis dorsal and ventral view; B, head of Ascalaphus festivus; C, head of Puer maculatus; D, VIII and IX sternites of Libelloides siculus.

FIGURE 2. VIII and IX abdominal sternites of 3rd instar larva of Ascalaphidae. A, Ascalaphus festivus; B, Bubopsis agrionoides; C, Puer maculatus; D, Deleproctophylla australis; E, Libelloides macaronius. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Chaetotaxy of the VIII abdominal sternite of 3rd instar larva of Ascalaphidae. A, Ascalaphus festivus; B, Bubopsis agrionoides; C, Puer maculatus; D, Deleproctophylla australis; E, Libelloides longicornis. Scale bar: 100 µm.

FIGURE 5. Puer maculatus (Olivier, 1789), 3rd instar larva (France: Hérault, Argelliers). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–f: diagnostic characters, see species description.