Myrmecaelurus acerbus ( Walker, 1853 )

Kaur, Simarjit, Rajmohana, K. & Pandher, Manpreet Singh, 2019, Morphological studies on male and female genitalia of Myrmecaelurus acerbus (Walker, 1853) (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), Records of the Zoological Survey of India 119 (4) : -

Myrmecaelurus acerbus ( Walker, 1853)

Myrmeleon acerbus Walker, 1853: 366

Myrmecaelurus acerbus MacLachlan, 1868: 278

Measurements: Forewing, length 24.59- 24.76 mm, breadth 7.51- 7.62 mm; hindwing, length 21.86- 21.92 mm, breadth 6.02- 6.08 mm.

Material examined: Rajasthan, Dry grassland, Sanjeev Kumar and party, 47 (16♀ s & 31♂ s); Sikar, Nursery near circuit house, 27°36’43.416”N, 75°8’23.856”E ,

10.ix.2017, ♀ & ♂; Jaipur, Kalakh Dam, 26°57’57.168”N, 75°27’55.584”E, 9.ix.2017, 1♀; Tonk, Pond at Baroni, 26°16’44.904”N, 75°53’39.767”E, 10.vi.2017 - H.S. Banyal, 1♀.

Male genitalia (Figure 1-2 & 5-9): Abdominal segment VI and VII with pair of pleuritosquamae, prominent lateral brushes of dense strong bristles (Figure 1 & 6). Sternum VIII with microtrichia on ventral side (Figure 5). Tergum IX almost trapezoidal, sternum IX large with subacute rounded apex equipped with microtrichia, sensilla chaetica (Sch 1 type), sensilla trichoidea and strong bristles (Figure 7). Gonocoxites IX and XI strictly associated in complex, being a tube like structure (Figure 2). Gonocoxite IX trilobed with two serrated rows, covered with spoon like projections dorsally (Figure 8). Gonocoxite XI with sensilla coeloconica (Figure 9). Ectoproct with short ventrocaudal projection, covered with microtrichia and sensilla chaetica .

Female Genitalia (Figures 3-4 & 10-13): Gonocoxite VII unpaired, relatively small, round, sclerotized, with microtrichia and sensilla chaetica. Gonocoxite 8 paired, longer than wide, rod shaped with microtrichia, sensilla chaetica (Sch1), sensilla trichoidea and strong bristles (Figure 3 & 11). Tergum IX trapezoidal, gonocoxite IX plate like covered with long bristles (Figure 3 & 4). Ectoproct with very short ventrocaudal projection, covered with microtrichia, sensilla chaetica (Sch1), sensilla chaetica (Sch 2 type) which look like digging setae and sensilla trichoidea (Figure 12 & 13) .