Rambur, 1842 : 382
Myrmeleon longicornis (Rambur)
Walker 1853 : 320
Weele 1907 : 266
Insom & Terzani, 2017 : 55
Syngenes carfii Insom & Terzani, 2017
S. longicornis
S. longicornis
Antlions of southern Africa: Syngenes Kolbe, 1897, with descriptions of two new species and comments on extra-limital taxa (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Acanthaclisini)
Mansell, Mervyn W.
Zootaxa
2018
2018-10-10
4497
3
346
380
53WJ4
(Rambur, 1842)
Rambur
1842
[151,611,663,690]
Insecta
Myrmeleontidae
Syngenes
GBIF
Animalia
Neuroptera
2
348
Arthropoda
species
longicornis
Acanthaclisis longicornis Rambur, 1842: 382. 5314. Myrmeleon longicornis(Rambur): Walker 1853: 320. 6194.
Syngenes longicornis(Rambur): van der Weele 1907: 266. 406.
Syngenes carfii Insom & Terzani, 2017: 55. 16257. Syn. nov.
Redescription.Based on Holotype ♀, 10 ♂ and 27 ♀.
Diagnosis.Medium-sized yellow and black antlions. Antennae long, clavate, narrowly annulated with black and yellow. Abdomen with characteristic chevron-like pattern ( Fig. 11). Wings broad, with posterior margins of forewings slightly undulating, alternating pale and light brown markings on wing veins, usually with a faint curved mark in distal region of forewing, occasionally with one or two large spots at posterior margin of forewing ( Fig. 1). Forewing with characteristic irregular biaereolate cells or bifurcate crossveins in costal area, biaereolate cells extending from before Rs to pterostigma ( Fig. 3). Distinguished from other Syngenesspecies by the right-angular tibial spurs bearing a prominent triangular flange on inner surface ( Figs 4, 5), and by the characteristic abdominal pattern. TABLE 1.Measurements (mm) of Syngenes longicornis. Figure above is the mean, size range below. mm Antenna length Head width Forewing length Forewing width Hind wing length Hind wing width Body length Holotype Female ca.36.0 ca.9.5 ca. 29.0 ca. 9.0 Males n = 10 9.3 8.4–10.3 4.1 3.9–4.4 41.1 36.5–45.0 11.1 10.0–12.0 37.1 32.0–40.7 9.9 9.0–11.0 36.0 32.3–38.6 Females n = 27 9.8 8.1–11.4 4.2 3.6–4.7 43.0 35.6–46.3 11.5 10.0–12.2 39.3 29.2–42.4 10.1 9.0–11.0 35.4 31.3–37.5 Head: wider than prothorax, vertex slightly raised, rounded. Frons and vertex black with two large laterally elongated embossed orange patches on vertex, two smaller spots in between, vertex also with row of small, embossed yellow marks, occiput with three large embossed yellow patches. Frons and vertex with short white recumbent setae. Face below antennae, clypeus, genae, labrum uniformly yellow, with long, sparse, pale setae. Antennae long, clavate, longer than twice head width, toruli less than scape diameter apart, scape almost touching eyes, scape and pedicel uniformly yellow, with sparse long white setae, flagellomeres short, annulated with black and yellow, covered in short black setae. Eyes large, greater than hemispherical, with sparse ocular setae usually present. Maxillary and labial palps very small, much less than head width, yellow, terminal labial palpomere spindle-shaped with long acute apex, palpimacula short, slit-shaped ( Fig. 6).
Thorax: yellow with black markings, sparsely pilose. Pronotumlonger than wide, tapering anteriorly. Anterior margin with two curved black lines laterally merging anteriorly, sides of pronotum with two diffuse black streaks, another two oblique streaks on each side of midline at posterior margin, central pronotum with distinct dots. Sparse long white and black forwardly curved setae situated laterally, short black bristles present along anterior raised margin, posterior margin with long curved black setae. Mesothorax: mesoprescutum yellow, brown anteriorly, a large diffuse black mark on either side of midline, anterior margin with long curved black setae; mesoscutum yellow with four longitudinal black lines on either side above wing bases and sparse black setae; mesoscutellum yellow with two black central stripes and two larger diffuse black spots posterior to central stripes. Metathorax: metaprescutum yellow with two large black marks on either side, metanotum with two velvety spots on each side, two longitudinal stripes laterally above wing bases, long curved white setae laterally; metascutum yellow with a large black mark on either side of midline, devoid of setae. Pleurites below wings yellow with irregular brown marks, sternites yellow, dense long white setae present on pleurites and sternites. Wings: broad, forewings longer, broader than hind wings, apices sub-acute, membrane hyaline, veins with alternating sections of yellow and black, bearing very short sparse black and yellow setae on correspondingly coloured areas. Forewingsbroad with slightly undulating posterior margin, apices rounded with sub-acute tip, usually with a faint curved mark in distal part, occasionally with one or two spots at posterior margin. Axillary protuberance at base of forewing yellow with long dense white and black setae. Costaalternating yellow and black with tuft of short black bristles at base, costal area narrow at base, broadening distally; costal veins irregular, usually 7 cells (but variable) before Rs, some veins bifurcate, with biaereolate cells in unbroken series extending distally from Rs. Pterostigma pale yellow, indistinct. Apical margin of wing with densely arranged narrowly-forked veins. Hypostigmatic cell elongate. Sc, R and proximal region of CuA with yellow and black chevron-like pattern. Rs arises well beyond CuA fork; area between Sc and R mostly pale with black cross-markings; 8–10 presectoral veins present. Mp2 (oblique crossvein) arising beyond CuA fork, CuP arises just before basal crossvein, fused with A1, A2 very short (sometimes not manifest, merged with A1 from base), curved before merging with A1. Hind wingsnarrower than forewings, lanceolate, always unmarked; axillary protuberance at base yellow with long dense white setae, C mainly yellow with tuft of long white recumbent setae at base, costal area narrow at base, broadening then narrowing, uniareolate, veins unbranched. Pterostigma yellow, hardly discernible. Hypostigmatic cell long. 5–6 occasionally 7 presectoral crossveins, Rs arises beyond Mp2 fork, Cu fused with posterior branch of Mp2 fork; anterior banksian line visible in distal portion of wing. Pilula axillaris in males conspicuous with densely packed short brown recumbent setae, females with long white setae in this position. FIGURES 3–6. Syngenes longicornis. 3, base of forewing showing main veins and biaereolate cells in subcostal area; 4, foreleg tibial spurs with flange and facial brush; 5, hind leg tibial spurs with flange; 6, labial palp with palpimacula. Abbreviations: A1 = First anal vein, C = Costal vein, CuA = Anterior cubital vein, CuP = Posterior cubital vein, Cc = Costal cell, Mp2 = branch of posterior medial vein (oblique vein), R = radial vein, Rs = Radial sector, Rs2 = second radial sector, Sc = Subcostal vein. Legs: forelegs strongly developed with short stout spines. Coxa, trochanter yellow with long white pubescence. Femur yellow with faint diffuse brown marks, very stout, thickened at base tapering distally, two femoral sense hairs near base, ventral surface with two rows of strong short black spines accommodating tibia on closure, long white setae with occasional black setae present. Tibia slender, yellow with four black stripes at femoral articulation and two black annulations proximally, one distally; lateral surfaces with long white setae, black setae dorsally, with dense pad of short black setae ventrally fitting between the two rows of black bristles on femur. A dense facial brush of short golden pubescence present on interior apical surface ( Fig. 4). Tibial spurs ( Figs 4, 5) characteristically bent at a right angle with prominent triangular flange. Tarsus with Ta5 longer than Ta1–Ta4 combined, Ta1–Ta4 yellow with black annulation on each, covered in short black bristles, Ta5 long, yellow, black apically, covered with short black bristles; preapical claws dark reddish-brown, stout, strongly curved. Middle legsshorter, more slender than forelegs, entirely yellow; coxa, trochanter shorter than in foreleg, with long white pubescence. Femur yellow with one sensory seta proximally, two rows of black bristles ventrally as in foreleg, covered with long white setae and sparse patch of long black bristles dorso-apically. Tibia, tarsus as in forelegs, but without facial brush. Hind legslong slender, yellow, lacking femoral sense hair; coxa, trochanter as in middle leg, femur sometimes with small black dots at setal bases, dorsal surface with short black setae, laterally with long black curved setae, long white setae proximally, ventral surface with two rows of short black bristles; tibia, tarsus as in middle leg. FIGURES 7–9. Syngenes longicornis7, male terminalia lateral; 8, dorsal; 9, ventral. Abbreviation: T9, Tergite 9. Abdomen: yellow with characteristic black markings imparting a chevron-like pattern ( Fig. 11), tergites with sparse short black setae, sternites yellow with sparse short white setae but sternites 1–2 with long soft dense white pubescence. T1 yellow, black centrally, T2 yellow laterally black centrally, T3 yellow with black mark on either side of midline tapering to two parallel stripes anteriorly. Male( Figs 7–10, 13–16): T9 yellow, divided dorsally, two black streaks along posterior margins. IX brown, short, rounded with pale central stripe and fringe of long black posteriorly directed setae. Ectoprocts yellow, very long, anterior dorsal margin with 2 black streaks and long anteriorly-curved white and black setae becoming much longer posteriorly, base of ectoprocts swollen bearing a dense tuft of short black setae. Gonarcus ( Figs 13–16) bears a prominent beak-shaped Mu; Pa ( Figs 13–16) sclerotized, articulating with Gs, terminating in upwardly curved sharply pointed extremities. Female( Figs 17–20): T9 divided dorsally, Ga digitiform with long white setae, Gl clavate bearing long stout, slightly curved pale spines, Epr rounded, bearing slender, slightly curved setae. Spermatheca ( Fig. 20) broad proximally becoming slender and coiled, tapering distally, with fine setae along distal extremity. FIGURES 10–12. Syngenes longicornis. 10, abdomen dorsal with hair pencil details; 11, abdomen dorsal showing pattern; 12, third instar larva, photo: H. de Klerk©. Larva( Fig. 12). Described by Stange & Miller (1985), who provided notes on the habitat and behavior. It is a beautiful black and white larva that is fast moving and free-living in coastal dunes on the fringes of vegetation along the eastern seaboard of Africa.
Distribution( Fig. 72). Extending along the eastern coastal belt from the Western Cape Province, SouthAfricato Mozambiqueand into Tanzaniaand Somalia.
Comments.The first Syngenesspecies to be described, S. longicornis(as Acanthaclisis) ( Rambur 1842) has been misinterpreted by most previous authors: van der Weele (1907, 1908), Esben-Petersen (1916, 1920), Banks (1920), Navás (1924, 1935), Fraser (1951), Handschin (1963), Ohm & Hölzel (1995), Insom & Terzani (2017). The correct identification of this taxon was consequently crucial to determining the subsequent species described from the Afrotropical Region. Rambur (1842)specifically stated that the country of origin was unknown, but there is now a label attached to the typespecimen indicating “ Senegal” ( Fig. 23). This is clearly an erroneous subsequent addition ( Prost 1998), who also stated that S. longicornisis a southern African taxon that does not occur in WestAfrica, an assumption verified here. This name however, still required association with a known population of Syngenesto understand its characteristics and extent. This relationship has now been clearly associated with a species that occurs in coastal forests and verges of dune vegetation along the east coast of Africa. It does not extend far inland, unless ideal sandy conditions exist ( e.g. Tembe Elephant Reserve, SouthAfrica). This species, with its characteristic white larvae ( Fig. 12), has been uncritically, but correctly, identified as S. longicornisby recent authors: Stange & Miller (1985), Gess & Gess (1998). A characteristic of S. longicornisis that the tibial spurs are sharply bent at a right angle and there is a prominent triangular flange along the ventral surface ( Figs 4, 5). This is also the typical spur structure of the genus Centroclisis,but is not as pronounced in other species of Syngenes. Furthermore, biaereolate cells are present in the forewing costal area from before Rs ( Fig. 3). There are other features, including a chevron-like (inverted V-shape) abdominal pattern ( Fig. 11) that characterize this species. Examination of the female holotypeof Acanthaclisis longicornisin IRSN, and from photographs provided by Jerome Constant (IRSN) ( Figs 21–24), has confirmed the tibial spur structure ( Fig. 22), and features of the wings and abdomen closely match that of the southern and eastern African population, which is now confirmed as S. longicornis. It consequently does not occur in the other countries listed by Stange (2004): Benin, Madagascar, Senegal, Seychellesand Togo. FIGURES 13–16. Syngenes longicornis. Male gonarcus and parameres complex: 13, lateral; 14, dorsal; 15, caudal; 16, ventral. Abbreviations: Gs = Gonarcus, Mu = Mediuncus, Pa = Paramere. The specimen illustrated by van der Weele (1907, Pl. 9, Fig. 9)is not S. longicornis, as already stated by Navás (1912), but is clearly S. maritimus.
Syngenes carfii Insom & Terzani, 2017, shares all the main characters for distinguishing S. longicornis: tibial spurs right-angled with internal flange, chevron-like abdominal pattern and the forewing costal area with biaereolate cells before Rs. It is consequently relegated to synonymy with S. longicornis.
Type material examined.Holotype ♀ and photographs: no associated locality data, collector or date (IRSN) ( Figs 21–24). FIGURES 17–20. Syngenes longicornis. Female Terminalia: 17, lateral; 18, ventral; 19, dorsal; 20, spermatheca. Abbreviations: Ga = anterior gonapophyses, Gl = lateral gonapophyses, Epr = Ectoproct, T9 = Tergite 9. Additional material examined. SOUTHAFRICA, Western Cape Province: 1♀, Wilderness, 33°59’S 22°35’E, 24.ii.1965, J.S.Taylor, ZILS00114( ZILS); 1♀, Still Bay 34°22’17”S 21°24’32”E, 40m, 15.ii.1971, D.J.van Wyk, NEUR11835. Eastern Cape Province: 1♂ 1♀, Kenton on Sea, 33°40’S 26°40’E, 50m, 15.ii.1971, R.A.Jubb, Malaise trap, NEUR11829; 1♀, Kleinemonde, 33°32’29”S 27°02’54”E, 20m, 17.ii.1971, M.W.Mansell, NEUR11836; 1♂, St Francis Bay, 34°10’S 24°50’E, 20m, 12.iii.1972, M.W.Mansell, NEUR09458; 4♂ 2♀, Port Alfred, 33°36’S 26°54’E, 20m, 15.xii.1988, E.Grobbelaar, NEUR11842. KwaZulu-Natal: 1♀, Lake Sibaya, 27°22’04”S 32°42’56”E, 50m, 7.i.1968, M.W.Mansell, NEUR11834; 1♀, same data but 23.i.1970, NEUR11833; 1♀, CapeVidal, 28°07’24”S 32°33’23”E, 30m, 10.xii.1973, L.R.Minter, NEUR11156; 1♂, Umlalazi Nature Reserve, 28°57’S 31°45’E, 10m, 28.i.1988, J.G.H.Londt, NEUR11837; 3♀, Sodwana Bay, 27°32’S 32°41’E, 30m, 3.xii.1988, H.Terblanche, NEUR01956; 2♀, same locality, 8.ii.1997, R.G.Oberprieler, NEUR10145; 2♀, Kosi BayNature Reserve, 26°59’S 3°48’E, 10m, 8.ii.1990, E.Grobbelaar, NEUR01584; 1♀, Kuleni Farm, 27°54’43”S 32°21’52”E, 115m, 12.ii.1990, E.Grobbelaar, NEUR01612; 1♀, Sihangwana, Tembe Elephant Park, 27°02’30”S 32°25’20”E, 85m, 1.ii.1996, R.Stals, NEUR11828; 1♀, same data but 6.iv.1996, NEUR05699; 1♂ 1♀, same locality, 1.ii.1996, E.Grobbelaar, NEUR05595; 4♀, same data but 25.i.2006, NEUR09438; 1♀, St Lucia Lake, 28°23’S 32°24’E, 20m, 11.ii.1997, R.G.Oberprieler, NEUR10144; 1♀, Ndumu Game Reserve, 26°51’60”S 32°15’00”E, 45m, 27.i.2006, E.Grobbelaar, NEUR09433; 1♀, Maphelana, 28°23’53”S 32°24’59”E, 29.i. 1993, 6m, J.deG. Harrison, TMSA00885( TMSA). MOZAMBIQUE: 1♂, Inhaca Island, 26°02’19”S 32°54’14”E, 10m, 23.i.1971, M.W.Mansell, NEUR11830; 1♀, Beira 20 kmN, 19°45’22”S 35°01’28”E, 5m, 3.iv.2000, R.D.Stephen, NEUR05587; 1♂ 1♀, Chidenguele, 24°56’03”S 34°11’09”E, 18m, 27.ii.2016, A.J.Gardiner, NEUR12539.
1915495953
[199,813,1521,1546]
South Africa
SOUTH
8
354
1
SOUTH
1915495940
1965-02-24
ZILS
J. S. Taylor
South Africa
-33.983334
Wilderness
1202
22.583334
8
354
ZILS00114
1
1
Western Cape Province
1915495945
1287890313
1971-02-15
NEUR
D. J. van Wyk
South Africa
40
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287890313
-34.371387
Bay
19
21.408888
8
354
NEUR11835
1
1
Bay
1915495936
1287890407
1971-02-15
NEUR
R. A. Jubb
South Africa
50
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287890407
-33.666668
Kenton on Sea
1204
26.666666
8
354
NEUR11829
2
1
1
Eastern Cape Province
1915495941
1287890406
1971-02-17
NEUR
M. W. Mansell
South Africa
20
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287890406
-33.54139
Kleinemonde
20
27.048332
8
354
NEUR11836
1
1
Eastern Cape Province
1915495938
1287897505
[313,1281,1665,1690]
1972-03-12
NEUR
M. W. Mansell
South Africa
20
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287897505
-34.166668
Bay
1200
24.833334
8
354
NEUR09458
1
1
Bay
1915495956
1287897471
1988-12-15
NEUR
E. Grobbelaar
South Africa
20
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287897471
-33.6
Port Alfred
1204
26.9
8
354
NEUR11842
6
2
4
Bay
1915495964
1287895395
1968-01-07
NEUR
M. W. Mansell
South Africa
50
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287895395
-27.367779
Lake Sibaya
20
32.715557
8
354
NEUR11834
1
1
KwaZulu-Natal
1915495949
1287895446
[945,1432,1737,1762]
1970-01-23
NEUR
M. W. Mansell
South Africa
50
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287895446
-27.367779
Lake Sibaya
20
32.715557
8
354
NEUR11833
1
1
KwaZulu-Natal
1915495952
1287897631
[151,1170,1773,1798]
1973-12-10
NEUR
L. R. Minter
South Africa
30
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287897631
-28.123333
Cape
20
32.55639
8
354
NEUR11156
1
1
Cape
1915495950
1287897486
1988-01-28
NEUR
J. G. H. Londt
South Africa
10
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287897486
-28.95
Umlalazi Nature Reserve
1229
31.75
8
354
NEUR11837
1
1
Cape
1915495948
1287897661
1988-12-03
NEUR
H. Terblanche
South Africa
30
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287897661
-27.533333
Bay
1236
32.683334
8
354
NEUR01956
3
3
Bay
1915495942
1287897645
[605,1271,1845,1870]
1997-02-08
NEUR
R. G. Oberprieler
South Africa
30
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287897645
-27.533333
Bay
1236
32.683334
8
354
NEUR10145
2
2
Bay
1915495954
1990-02-08
NEUR
E. Grobbelaar
South Africa
10
-26.983334
Bay
1239
3.8
8
354
NEUR01584
2
2
Bay
1915495979
1287890528
1990-02-12
NEUR
E. Grobbelaar
South Africa
115
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287890528
-27.911943
Kuleni Farm
20
32.364445
8
354
NEUR01612
1
1
Bay
1915495943
[756,1261,1953,1978]
1996-04-06
NEUR
E. Grobbelaar
South Africa
115
-27.911943
Kuleni Farm
20
32.364445
8
354
NEUR05699
1
1
Bay
1915495955
1996-02-01
NEUR
E. Grobbelaar
South Africa
115
-27.911943
Kuleni Farm
20
32.364445
8
354
NEUR05595
2
1
1
Bay
1915495939
[699,1198,1989,2014]
2006-01-25
NEUR
E. Grobbelaar
South Africa
115
-27.911943
Kuleni Farm
20
32.364445
8
354
NEUR09438
4
4
Bay
1915495967
1287897520
1997-02-11
NEUR
R. G. Oberprieler
South Africa
20
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287897520
9
355
-28.383333
St Lucia Lake
1232
32.4
8
354
NEUR10144
1
1
Bay
1915495946
2006-01-27
NEUR
E. Grobbelaar
South Africa
45
Ndumu Game Reserve
32.25
9
355
NEUR09433
1
1
Bay
1915495937
1993-01-29
TMSA
Harrison
South Africa
-28.398056
Maphelana
20
32.41639
9
355
TMSA00885
1
1
Bay
1915495935
[199,1433,260,285]
1971-01-23
NEUR
M. W. Mansell
Mozambique
10
-26.03861
Inhaca Island
20
32.90389
9
355
NEUR11830
1
1
1915495934
[151,1175,295,320]
2000-04-03
NEUR
R. D. Stephen
Mozambique
5
-19.756111
Beira
21
35.024445
9
355
NEUR05587
1
1
1915495947
2016-02-27
NEUR
A. J. Gardiner
Mozambique
18
-24.934166
Chidenguele
21
34.185833
9
355
NEUR12539
2
1
1