Myrmeleon wangi Miller and Stange, 1999

Lin, Yu-Hsiu, Liao, Jhih-Rong & Ko, Chiun-Cheng, 2021, Fig. 5 in Periclimenaeus karantina Park & De Grave 2021, sp. nov., Zoological Studies 60 (39), pp. 1-24 : 19-22

Myrmeleon wangi Miller and Stange, 1999 ( Figs. 3I , 4I , 14 )

Description of 3rd instar larva: Size: Average body length 9.85 mm (7.72–12.75); head length 2.40 mm (2.11–2.59), head width 1.84 mm (1.65–2.00), mandible length 2.57 mm (2.43–2.88), ratio head width/ length 0.77, ratio mandible length/head length 1.07.

General coloring: Pale brown, covered with dark brown body markings, ventrally very pale with dark brown spots.

Head: Sub-rectangular, longer than wide. Densely covered with short, black setae. Ocular tubercle sessile. Mandibles pale brown with apex reddish, dorsal side with brown markings, slightly longer than the head capsule, provided with 3 equidistant teeth with the apical tooth slightly stronger. Interdental mandibular setae: (7–11)(3–5)(2–4)(1–2), with setae distinctly shorter at base. Clypeo-labrum with pointed setae. External margin of the mandible with a fringe of long setae, dorsal side of the mandible with a row of short setae on the external margins and a sparse covering of short setae internally, ventral side of the mandible with a sparse covering of setae external to the maxilla, extending over the basal tooth. Labial palpus 4-articulated, with fringe of black setae underneath, none extending over labial palpus. Dorsal side of the head with the clypeo-labrum dark brown, a pair of black spots on the anterior side, followed by a pair of dark brown triangular markings extending to the posterior end, lateral margin with brown stripes extending from beside the medial dark spot and pale brown spots on the posterior side. Lateral side of the head with an anterior dark marking extending from the dorsal side and a large dark brown posterior spot. Ventral side of the head with a pair of pale brown spot in the middle, laterally mottled with small pale brown spots.

Thorax: Pronotum brown, with a pair of lateral brown stripes and a pale median ochre line in between, covered with short setae. Body setae black.

Legs: Pale brown, fore- and mid coxae with a basal brown stripe on the outer surface, hind coxae with an apical brown marking on the outer surface.

Abdomen: Setae black. VIII abdominal sternite with a pair of dark brown spots, odontoid processes distinct, posterior margin with short filiform setae. IX abdominal sternite with a pair of pale brown markings, a median row of 4 peg-like digging setae divided into 2 groups. Rastra sessile, each bearing 3 peg-like digging setae, of which the external one is the longest, 1 seta on the external side.

Materials examined: Taiwan. Chiayi County. Alishan, Alishan Township / 21. VIII. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3. Hsinchu County. Lidong lodge, Jianshi Township / 19. VIII. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 3 L2. Smangus, Jianshi Township / 19. VIII. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 2 L2, 6 L3, 2 L3 laboratory reared to adult. Nantou County. Highland Experimental Farm N.T.U., Chunyang Farm, Renai Township / 16. V. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 6 L3, 2 L3 laboratory reared to adult.

Bio-ecology: M. wangi is a montane species, recorded above 1,000 m. a.s.l.. The larvae of this species build pitfall in protected environment such as underneath rock overhangs or artificial buildings ( Fig. 1D ).

Distribution: Endemic to Taiwan.

Remarks: This is a large species among the Myrmeleontini of Taiwan. The markings on the legs are similar to the Afrotropical species Myrmeleon quinquemaculatus Hagen and the European species M. formicarius Linnaeus , M. gerlindae Hölzel , and M. punicanus Pantaleoni and Badano ( Pantaleoni and Badano 2012; Badano and Pantaleoni 2014; Badano 2020).

Key to the larvae of tribe Myrmeleontini from Taiwan

1. IX abdominal sternite elongated, without or with few reduced digging setae; hind femur with a dark brown spot ( Figs. 4A–B , 5B , 6B ) ....................................................................................... 2

- IX abdominal sternite with at least 1 row of digging setae; hind femur without markings ( Figs. 4C–I , 6B , 9B , 10B , 11B , 12B , 13B , 14B ) ................................................................................... 3

2 Clypeo-labrum with long dolichasters; rastra with 3 digging setae and 1 long setae ( Figs. 3A , 4A ) ................................. B. asakurae

- Clypeo-labrum with pointed setae; rastra with 4 digging setae and 1 long setae ( Figs. 3B , 4B ) ................................. M. alticolus

3 VIII abdominal sternite with stout black setae or short brown setae dispersed on the posterior margin ( Fig. 4D, 4F, 4G ) ......... 4

- VIII abdominal sternite with long hairlike or spiniform setae dispersed on the posterior margin ( Fig. 4C, 4E, 4H, 4I ) ............ 6

4 Ventral side of the mandibles without setae ( Fig. 3D, 3F ) ......... 5

- Ventral side of the mandibles with short setae at base on the external margins ( Fig. 3G ) .................................. M. punctinervis

5 Ventral side of the head with a pair of black spots on the posterior side and a pair of small black markings on the anterior side ( Figs. 3D , 9B ) ...................................................................... M. heppneri

- Ventral side of the head with only a pair of brown spots on the anterior side ( Figs. 3F , 11B ) .................................... M. persimilis

6 Coxae with dark brown markings ( Fig. 14B–C ) ........... M. wangi

- Coxae without markings ............................................................. 7

7 Ventral side of the head with a pair of outwardly curved brown band (sometimes broken in the middle); the fringe of setae below labial palpi not reaching labial palpi ( Figs. 3C , 7B ) ................ M. bimaculatus

- Ventral side of the head with a pair of dark brown spots on the posterior side; the fringe of setae below labial palpi with a few setae extending over labial palpi ( Figs. 3E, 3H , 10B , 13B ) ....... 8

8 Dorsal side of the head with a pair of brown stripes connecting with lateral markings; ventral side of the head with a dark brown marking on the clypeo-labrum; ventral side of the mandibles without setae; labial palpi 3-articulated ( Figs. 3H , 13A ) .............. ............................................................................... M. taiwanensis

- Dorsal side of the head with a pair of brown stripes not connecting with lateral markings; ventral side of the head without a markings on the clypeo-labrum; ventral side of the mandibles short setae at base; labial palpi 4-articulated ( Figs. 3E , 10A ) ....... .................................................................................... M. littoralis

Figures

Fig. 3. Head of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini of Taiwan, ventral view; A, Baliga asakurae; B, Myrmeleon alticolus; C, Myrmeleon bimaculatus; D, Myrmeleon heppneri; E, Myrmeleon littoralis; F, Myrmeleon persimilis; G, Myrmeleon punctinervis; H, Myrmeleon taiwanensis; I, Myrmeleon wangi. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. IX abdominal sternite of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini of Taiwan, ventral view; A, Baliga asakurae; B, Myrmeleon alticolus; C, Myrmeleon bimaculatus; D, Myrmeleon heppneri; E, Myrmeleon littoralis; F, Myrmeleon persimilis; G, Myrmeleon punctinervis; H, Myrmeleon taiwanensis; I, Myrmeleon wangi. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 14. Myrmeleon wangi Miller and Stange, 1999, 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

Fig. 1. Habitats of the Myrmeleontini larvae, A, Underneath trunks of giant woods (M. alticolus). B, On open sand dunes (M. persimilis). C, Underneath rock overhangs (M. taiwanensis). D, Underneath artificial buildings (M. wangi).

Fig. 5. Baliga asakurae (Okamoto, 1910), 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

Fig. 6. Myrmeleon alticolus Miller and Stange, 1999, 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

Fig. 9. Myrmeleon heppneri Miller and Stange, 1999, 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

Fig. 10. Myrmeleon littoralis Miller and Stange, 1999, 3rd instar larva.A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

Fig. 11. Myrmeleon persimilis Miller and Stange, 1999, 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

Fig. 12. Myrmeleon punctinervis Banks, 1937, 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

Fig. 13. Myrmeleon taiwanensis Miller and Stange, 1999, 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

Fig. 7. Myrmeleon bimaculatus Yang, 1999, 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.