Neuroleon, Navas, 1909

Badano, Davide & Pantaleoni, Roberto Antonio, 2014, The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera), Zootaxa 3762 (1), pp. 1-71 : 26-27

Key to the known larvae of Neuroleon

1 Dorsal side of the head capsule mostly covered by large contiguous black markings ( Fig. 16 )......................... 2

- Dorsal side of the head capsule without extended black markings ( Fig. 13–15 , 17 )..................................3

2 Ventral side of the head capsule pale; general colour of the body whitish................................. N. ochreatus

- Ventral side of the head capsule infuscated; general colour of the body ochre ( Fig. 16 ).................... N. microstenus

3 Ventral portion of the head capsule with a pair of median markings (except those on the gular area); general colour of the body brown ( Figs. 14 , 15 )................................................................................... 4

- Ventral portion of the head capsule without a pair of median markings (except those on the gular area); general colour of the body ochre ( Figs. 13 , 17 )............................................................................... 5

4 Mandibles relatively thin, distance between base and the basal tooth equal to that between the basal and apical teeth; ventral side of the head capsule with a median pair of separated spots; labial palpi dark ( Fig. 14 ).................... N. assimilis

- Mandibles relatively robust, distance between base and basal tooth smaller than that between the basal and apical teeth; ventral side of the head capsule with a median pair of contiguous parallel stripes; labial palpi pale ( Fig. 15 )............. N. egenus

5 Dorsal side of the head with an anterior pair of brown markings disposed from the antennal pit to the posterior V-shaped markings ( Fig. 13 )................................................................................ N. arenarius

- Dorsal side of the head without an anterior pair of dark markings ( Fig. 17 )............................ N. nemausiensis

Figures

FIGURE 13. Neuroleon arenarius (Navás, 1904), 3rd instar larva (Italy: Sardinia, Alghero, Lazzaretto). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–e: diagnostic characters, see species description.

FIGURE 14. Neuroleon assimilis (Navás, 1915), 3rd instar larva (Greece: Corfu, Kato Pauliana). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–e: diagnostic characters, see species description.

FIGURE 15. Neuroleon egenus (Navás, 1915), 3rd instar larva (Italy: Liguria, Cipressa). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–e: diagnostic characters, see species description.

FIGURE 16. Neuroleon microstenus (McLachlan, 1898), 3rd instar larva (Italy: Liguria, Bordighera, Mt. Nero). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–f: diagnostic characters, see species description.

FIGURE 17. Neuroleon nemausiensis (Borkhausen, 1791), 3rd instar larva (Italy: Sardinia, Alghero, Capo Caccia). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–e: diagnostic characters, see species description.