Solter francoisi Michel

Michel, Bruno, 2014, A revision of the genus Solter Navás, 1912 for Maghreb and West Africa with descriptions of five new species (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), Zootaxa 3887 (5), pp. 529-554 : 534

3. Solter francoisi Michel nov. sp.

Figs 11–15 , 64, 65 , 79 .

Diagnosis. Large species ( Fig. 11 ). Forewing 36–39 mm, hind wing 32–35 mm. Coloration ochre yellow with dorsal light brown areas ( Fig. 12 ). Forewings with 7–8 brown markings along the anterior branch of CuA from cubital fork. Anterior tentorial pit wide and deep ( Fig. 13 ).

Description (Based on 3 males). Head ( Fig. 13 ). Labrum, clypeus and frons yellow. Vertex raised, ochre yellow with a brown triangular mark above antennae and dorsal very light brown markings. Last segment of labial palp moderately enlarged, spindle-shaped ( Fig. 14 ); palpimacula triangular with rounded angles, narrowing basally. Anterior tentorial pit widely opened and deep ( Fig. 13 ).

Thorax ( Fig. 12 ). Dorsal surface ochre yellow with light brown markings, side and sternites yellow. Pronotum with white erect setae along the anterior and posterior margins and on the sides; discal area with minute black spine-like setae. Mesonotum with white erect setae on mesoprescutum, disc of mesonotum and posterior margin of mesoscutellum. Metascutellum with two tufts of around seven white erect setae on each side of posterior margin.

Wings. Apices sub-acute; pterostigma brown basally. Forewing subcostal vein darker at the origin of each costal area crossvein; radial and CuA vein more or less alternatively pale and brown at the connections with crossvein; membrane hyaline, with 8–9 suffused dots along anterior branch of cubital fork; cubital mark conspicuous; seven presectoral crossveins. Hind wing hyaline with 5–6 presectoral crossveins.

Legs. Yellow with white erect setae. Fore and mid tibiae with light brown marking medially and apically. Hind tibiae with dark brown apices. Fore and mid tibia spurs as long as tarsomeres 1+2. Hind tibia spurs slightly longer than first tarsomere ( Fig. 15 ). All tarsomeres pale, slightly darker apically.

Abdomen. Tergite 1 ochre yellow with dorsal white erect setae. Tergite 2 brown with an anterior short black longitudinal line and two lateral dots variably contrasted. Remainder of abdomen brown with anterior and posterior ochre yellow area marked with transversal row of parallel light brown lines. Sternites yellow.

Male genitalia ( Figs 64, 65 ). Gonarcus strongly arched. Parameres convex with inner edge of basal half strongly raised forward. Hypandrium internum as in fig. 79.

Female and Larva. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype ♂, MOROCCO Missour Emirates Center for Wildlife Propagation [33.00570–4.09325] 12.vii.2013, alt. 954 m, at light, A. François leg. Paratypes, Same locality as holotype, 1♂ 01.vii.2011; 1♂ 03.viii.2011, both at light, A. François leg.

Etymology: Dedicated to our colleague Alexandre François (Emirates Center for Wildlife Propagation (ECWP), Missour) who collected the specimens.

Distribution ( Fig. 86 ). Known only from the type locality in the Atlas Mountains.

Figures

FIGURE 86. Distribution of the Solter species represented in the area covered by the study.

FIGURES 11 – 15. Solter francoisi. 11 — Habitus of holotype ♂ (CIRAD-CBGP). 12 — Head and thorax, dorsal view. 13 — Face. 14 — Last segment of labial palp. 15 — Hind tarsus. (Legend as in fig. 5; TP = tentorial pit).

FIGURES 61 – 67. Male genitalia of Solter spp. 61 — S. bouyeri, caudal view. 62 — S. dogon, gonarcus, dorsal view. 63 — idem, parameres, caudal view. 64 — S. francoisi, caudal view. 65 — idem, lateral view. 66 — S. leopardalis, caudal view. 67 — idem, caudo-lateral view. (ap = anterior projection of parameres; g = gonarcus; lp = left parameres).

FIGURES 74 – 80. 74 – 76. Male genitalia of Solter spp. 74 — S. neglectus, fronto-lateral view. 75 — S. rothschildi, caudal view. 76 — idem, lateral view. 77 – 80. Hypandrium internum. 77 — S. bouyeri. 78 — S. dogon. 79 — S. francoisi. 80 — S. liber. (Legend as in figures 61 – 67).