Deleproctophylla australis (Fabricius, 1787)

Badano, Davide & Pantaleoni, Roberto Antonio, 2014, The Larvae of European Ascalaphidae (Neuroptera), Zootaxa 3796 (2), pp. 287-319 : 301

Deleproctophylla australis (Fabricius, 1787)

( Figs. 1A , 2D , 3D , 8 )

Larva of this species is described here for the first time.

Examined specimens. Italy. Sardinia, 6 L3, laboratory-reared from a female collected at Monti (SS), VII.2010 (D. Badano) .

Description of 3 rd instar larva. Size (based on 6 specimens): BL 10.66 mm; HL 2.50 mm (2.24–2.72), HW 2.69 mm (2.42–2.92), ML 2.98 mm (2.77–3.22), HW/HL 1.07, ML/HL 1.19. General colouring pale brown, almost whitish, with brown markings and shades, ventral side of the body whitish with brown markings; dorsal side of the head capsule dark brown with paler markings, ventral side dark brown with paler posterior stripes, mandibles brown; legs brown; setae of the body black. Head quadrate, as wide as long, without a pronounced posterior dilatation ( Fig. 8b ), dorso-posterior emargination of the head capsule relatively deep; mandibles longer than the head capsule ( Fig. 8a ); interdental pseudo-teeth: (5–6)(2–3)(1–0); external margin of the mandible covered with short setae. Pronotum with a distinct median pale stripe bordered by dark brown areas; mesothoracic spiracles pale brown; anterior pair of mesothoracic scolus-like processes with a ventral dark brown spot at the base ( Fig. 8c ). Abdominal spiracles brown, disposed on the lateral sides; dorsal series of scolus-like processes white; VIII sternite with two distinct brown spots on the sides ( Fig. 8d ).

Bio-ecology. D. australis is strictly associated with arid Mediterranean environments such as grasslands, low scrublands and glades. The habits of the larvae are still poorly known however they clearly live on the soil surface among stones and tufts of plants.

Distribution. This species is present in the Apennine Peninsula, Tyrrhenian islands ( Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily) and Balkan Peninsula.

Remarks. The larva of D. australis is not recognizable from D. dusmeti , sharing the same morphological features, proportions and even the slightest details such as the markings at the base of the first pair of mesothoracic setiferous processes and on the VIII sternite. Larval stages of the other members of the genus are currently unknown.

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 8. Deleproctophylla australis (Fabricius, 1787), 3rd instar larva (Italy: Sardinia, Monti). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–d: diagnostic characters, see species description.