Purenleon Stange, 2002

Miller, Robert B. & Stange, Lionel A., 2011, Antlions of Hispaniola (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), Insecta Mundi 2011 (182), pp. 1-28 : 17

Purenleon Stange

Purenleon Stange 2002: 285 . Type species: Purenleon abruptus Stange , by original designation = Diazus Navás 1914a:220 (preoccupied by Diazus LeConte, 1859 , Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae ) by Stange

2002: 285. Type species: Diazus clavatus Navás , by original designation (after Stange 1970b: 16).

List of species. Stange 1970b: 23; 2004: 215-217.

Distribution. Caribbean; North America; South America.

Description. Adult: Body length 21-29 mm; forewing length 23-31 mm. Antennal fossa separated from ocular rim by much less than greatest diameter of scape; antenna relatively short with evident clava; pronotum wider than long; mesoscutellum smaller than metanotum; legs about equal in length, except hindleg longer than foreleg; tibial spurs well developed; pretarsal claws well developed, at least as long as basitarsus of foreleg, not capable of closing against ventral surface of tarsomere; hind basitarsus at least 2.5 times longer than greatest diameter or midtibia swollen about twice as wide as that of foreleg; midfemoral sense hair various, longer or shorter than forefemoral sense hair; forewing with costal margin evenly curved toward apex, height of costal area at point of coalescing of subcostal and radial veins lower than at middle of wing; forewing radial sector originates well beyond forking of CuA; forewing vein 2A widely separated from 3A before strong angle toward posterior wing margin; hindwing vein CuA extends nearly to forking of MP2, sometimes well beyond this point; male ectoproct simple, without postventral lobe; male paramere in form of rigid plate; male gonarcus not greatly expanded laterally; tergite VIII of female without subapical row of stout bristles; female ectoproct not produced ventrally, without digging setae; posterior gonapophysis well developed, often somewhat inflated.

Larva with three equally spaced teeth, increasing in length apically; labial palpus longer than basal width of mandible; distal palpomere over twice as long as wide; scoli absent; dolichasters usually present on head; mesothoracic spiracle borne on tubercle; abdominal segment IX wider than long; sternite VII with submedial teeth.

Discussion. Purenleon now includes 17 species, most of which were formerly included in Psammoleon Banks (now Euptilon Westwood , in part). The five known species of Euptilon are unique in having modified female terminalia adapted for throwing eggs. Tergite VIII has a subapical row of stout bristles directed posteriorly which partially lock the previously sand coated egg into a lateral alignment and prevents the egg from slipping anteriorly on the abdomen during the throwing. The angle of the setae on the tergite VIII determines the projectory angle of the egg. Also, the leg structure is different in having a short hindleg basitarsus (shorter than pretarsal claws). Species of Purenleon lack the subapical row of stout bristles found in Euptilon . There are three distinct species groups in Purenleon . Only the bistictus group is found in the West Indies and has the hind basitarsus is elongate, at least 2.5 times longer than greatest diameter. The inscriptus group is found in North America and has the pretarsal claws small, those of foreleg not more than one-half length of basitarsus whereas the pretarsal claws are moderately long, those of foreleg at least subequal to length of basitarsus in Purenleon . A third, undescribed group is found in Colombia and Venezuela and have the midtibia greatly swollen, much broader than the foretibia and the basitarsus of hindleg is about twice as long as greatest diameter. Larvae of Purenleon have been found in diverse habitats such as in cave mouths, in sand under palm fronds ( P. minor ), and living in loose soil around tree bases.