Ascalorphne macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839 )

Schuster, Phillip Alves & Machado, Renato José Pires, 2022, Insights on the evolution of Ululodini (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Ascalaphinae), focusing on the systematics of the genus Ascalorphne Banks, 1915, Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (e 20220070) 66, pp. 1-21 : 4-10

Ascalorphne macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839)

Figs. 1A , 2 , 3 , 7B , 15J , 18C .

Ascalaphus macrocercus Burmeister, 1839:1000 (original description); Hagen, 1861:326 (list); Hagen, 1866:385 (cited); McLachlan, 1873:252 (taxonomy); van der Weele, 1908:139 (list); Navás,1912b:80 (list); Banks, 1915:350 (taxonomy); Penny, 1977:11 (list); Penny, 1981b:404: (cited); Oswald and Penny, 1991:10 (list).

Orphne macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839) : McLachlan, 1871:252, 401 (new combination/ distribution); van der Weele, 1908:139 (cited/ taxonomy/ redescription); Navás, 1912a:223 (key); Navás, 1912b:80 (key/ list/ taxonomy); Navás, 1913:64 (key).

Suhpalacsa macrocercus ( Burmeister, 1839) : Taschenberg, 1879:221 (redescription/ taxonomy/ distribution); Lefèbvre,1842:7 (key); van der Weele, 1908:139 (cited); Penny, 1977:11 (list).

Suhpalacsa macroceras ( Burmeister, 1839): Taschenberg, 1879:221 (redescription/ taxonomy/ distribution).

Colobopterus macrocercus ( Burmeister, 1839) : Hagen, 1866:399 (new combination).

Ascalorphne macrocerca ( Burmeister, 1839) : Banks, 1915:350 (new combination); Navás, 1920:37 (cited); Navás, 1928:109 (cited); Penny, 1977:11 (list/ distribution); Heckman, 2017:201 (key); Ardila-Camacho et al., 2019:3 (list); Oswald, 2022 (catalog); Schuster & Machado, 2021 (distribution); Machado & Martins, 2022 (catalog).

Diagnosis. Tuft of brown, long setae on the dorsolateral margin of clypeus. Males with short and thick setae, resembling spines, on the apices of flagellomeres 8-23. Fusiform antennal club, brown and with whitish/yellowish tip. Thorax with pleural region with conspicuous yellow spots and intense white pilosity. Coxae, trochanter and femur yellow, tibia with a variegated pattern of black and yellow. Ectoproct of both sexes with a wide sclerotized band.

Dimensions (mm). Body: ♀ 22.6 ± 3.06/ ♂ 23.9 ± 2.6; antennae: 31.2 ♀ ± 1.64/ ♂ 31.82 ± 2.53; forewing: ♀ 27.48 ± 1.35/ ♂ 26.08 ± 1.5; hind wing: ♀ 25.18 ± 2.01/ ♂ 24.38 ± 2.1.

Head ( Figs. 2D, E ). As in the description of the genus, but differing in the following characteristics: presence of tufts of brown and long setae on the dorsolateral margin of the clypeus; labial palp brown; antennae dark brown with black rings, with 44-45 flagellomeres, long, surpassing the apex of the forewing; in males the flagellomeres 8-23 have short and thick setae but in females these setae are simple and elongated, antennal club fusiform, dorsally brown and ventrally whitish/yellowish.

Thorax ( Figs. 2B, C ). Pleural region brown with yellow spots and with abundant long white setae and some black; brown/yellowish pronotum with yellowish margin; prescutum yellowish; scutellum black. Leg. Coxae and trochanter yellowish, femur yellowish at the base and dark at the apex; tibia with a variegated pattern of black and yellow; tarsomeres yellowish with black apex and short black setae.

Forewing ( Fig. 2A ). Membrane usually hyaline, veins brown; pterostigma brown, with 6 crossveins; apical area, after fusion of Sc+R, with 3-5 cell lines; RP with 5 branches; MA long, without branches, extending beyond the third bifurcation of RP; CuA+MP with 11 branches; CuP straight and short, extending to the origin of RP; cubital area with 3-4 cell lines. Hind wing ( Fig. 2A ). Membrane and veins as above; pterostigma smaller, brown with 5 crossveins; MA straight, ending after the third RP branch; CuP straight, extending to the first RP branch; cubital area with 2-3 cell lines.

Abdomen ( Figs. 2B, C ). Shorter than wings, brown/yellowish. Terminalia and genitalia ( Fig.3 ). ♂: Ectoproct oval with a wide sclerotized band; T9 light brown, triangular, in lateral view, and with longer setae on the ventral portion; GPC, in lateral view, with GX11 wide and GX9, in dorsal view, narrow. ♀: Ectoproct with a wide sclerotized band.

Morphological variation. The pattern of macules in the eyes is highly variable. The general body coloration varies between light to dark brown; the pleural region can be brown and without distinct yellow spots, the pattern of spots on the dorsum of the thorax can be conspicuous or not, and the wing membrane can be pigmented (ambar/ brownish) depending on the location or method of preservation.

Temporal distribution. Based on the dates on the labels of the analyzed specimens, adults of this species are usually collected between November and April, and are not observed between March and October.

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 12 ). Brazil: Bahia ( Burmeister, 1839),

Espírito Santo ( van der Weele, 1908), Maranhão *, Minas Gerais *, Paraná ( Schuster and Machado 2021), Rio de Janeiro ( van der Weele, 1908), Santa Catarina ( van der Weele, 1908), São Paulo *. iNaturalist: Brazil : Bahia, Minas Gerais *, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo *.

Primary types ( Fig. 2 ). Ascalaphus macrocercus , 3 ♀, MCZ, high resolution images analyzed. Lectotype (here designated): ♀, type 3 (MCZ-ENT 0010525); type locality: Bahia; labels: 1) A. macrocercus *Burm., 2) Winthem, 3) Type 3 10525, 4) MCZ-ENT 0010525; condition: great.

Paralectotypes. 1 ♀, label s: 1) A.macrocercus *Burm., 2) Winthem, 3) Type 2 10525, 4) MCZ-ENT 00641047; condition: good, antennae missing / 1♀, labels: 1) A. macrocercus mihi * Burm. P. 1000 NO: 3 Bahia ,

2) Winthem, 3) Type 10525, 4) MCZ-ENT 00641048; condition: good, antennae missing.

Examined specimens. Brazil – Espírito Santo: • Conceição da Barra; 8.xi.1969; 1 ♂; C.T. & C. Elias • Iconha, Sítio Laranjeira; 20°’8’16.1318”S 40°’46’27.2834” W; 16.ix-14.x.2018; 1 ♂; Malaise; M.S. Lovali e equipe cols.; UFES160650 • Vitória, Jardim Penha Gomes; 10.xii.2000; I.T. col.; 1 ♀; UFESN54621. Maranhão: • Balsas, 525m; 8°’8’S46°’3’W; 15.ii.1999; 1♀; CZMA • Linhares, 20km, N. of Linhares, Forest. Reserv., 40 m; 19.iv.1992; 1♀; Edward S. Ross; CASENT8472563. Minas Gerais: • Belo Horizonte; 28.xi.1966; 1 ♀ e 1 ♂; O.H.H. Mielke Leg.; DZUP381249, DZUP381241 • Betim, Casa Amarela, Maloca, 795m; 20°00’2.3”S 44°13’18.7”W; 4.iii.2021; 1♂; puçá; A.R. Lima leg.; UFMG INE2200023 • Marliéria, Parque Estadual do Rio Doce; 19.xi.1980 - 26.xi.1980; 2 ♂ 6♀; M.A. Vulcano & F.S. Pereira et. al. leg.; UFMG INE2200007- 2200014 • idem, 13.xii.1978; 4 ♂ 3 ♀; UFMG INE220000-220006 • Ouro Preto, S. Bartolomeu, RPPN Quinta dos Cedros, 1035m; 20°17’38.4”S 43’34’ 14.7”W; 17.iii.2013; 3 ♂ 1 ♀; lençol iluminado; P.G.Dias leg.; UFMG INE2200020, 2200021, 2200022 • idem, 01-3.iii.2013, 1 ♀; F. A. Silveira et al. leg. UFMG INE2200017 • S. Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo, E.A. Peti, CEMIG, 630m, 19°53′02”S; 43°22′21″W; 8-15.iii.2013; 1 ♂; luminosa, A.R. Lima et al. leg.; UFMG INE2200016 • idem, 10-17.xii.2012; 1♂; UFMG INE2200018. Paraná: • Antonina, Reserva Sapitanduva ; 25°28′00ʺS 048°50′00ʺW; 30.xii.1986, 31.i.1987, 32.i.1987, 26.ii.1987, 27.iii.1987, 28.iii.1987; 4♀ e 3♂; luminosa; R.C.Marinoni e R.R.C. Dutra leg.; PROFAUPAR; DZUP381644, DZUP381648, DZUP381652, DZUP381654-381656 • Antonina, RPPN Reserva Natural Guaricica (SPVS), alojamento Bom Jesus, 9 m. a. s. l; 25°18’42”S 48º40’18”W; 25-29.xi.2019; 2 ♂; pano branco; PPGEnto/ Entomol. de Campo UFPR leg.; DZUP • Fênix, Reserva Estadual Vila Rica (ITCF); 23°54′51ʺS 051°57′45ʺW; 01.i.1987; 1 ♀ e 1 ♂; luminosa; R.C. Marinoni e R.R.C. Dutra leg.; PROFAUPAR; DZUP38164 • Ponta Grossa, Vila Velha, res. IAPAR BR 376; 25°13′02ʺS 050°02′14ʺW; 27.i.1987; 2 ♂; luminosa; R.C.Marinoni e R.R.C. Dutra leg.; PROFAUPAR; DZUP381649 • Morretes, IAPAR; 21.ii.1985; 2 ♀; luminosa; C.I.I.F; DZUP381211 • idem, 11.iii.1985; 2 ♀; DZUP381761 • idem, 06.iv.1985; 2 ♀; DZUP381209 • Telêmaco Borba, Reserva Biológica Klabin; 24°17′00ʺS 050°37′00ʺW; 26.ii.1987, 27.ii.1987, 28.ii.1987, 01.iii.1987, 27.iii.1987, 29.iii.1987; 6♀ e 1♂;

luminosa; R.C.Marinoni e R.R.C. Dutra leg.; PROFAUPAR; DZUP381646, DZUP381647, DZUP381650, DZUP381651, DZUP381653, DZUP381657.

Rio de Janeiro: • Cachoeiras de Macacu , CEDAE 550m; 18-21.i.1996 ; 1 ♀ e 3 ♂; O.C. Mielke & Mers leg.; DZUP381765 • Guapimirim; 1.iii.1970;

1 ♂; O.H.H. Mielke • Nova Friburgo, Lumiar, Sítio Kikiô, Rio Bonito el. 729m; 22º24’24”S 42º22’11”W; 29-31.xii.2017 ; 1 ♂; luminosa; A.P. M.S. & D.M.T.; DZUP • Duque de Caxias, Nova Campinas ; 28.xi.2010 ; 1 ♀; Lopes, T.R.P.; UFBA#N350. • Porto Real ; 1 ♀; Hardy de Dréneuf; Coll. V. D. Weele leg. 1907 n°6, Cat. n° 1; NBC. São Paulo: • Ribeirão Grande , Parque Estadual Intervales , ponto 5; 24°16’23”S 48°25’ 21.8”O; 21.ii.2011 ; 1 ♀; Malaise, ETOH 99,3 INPM; R.I.R.Lara e eq., cols. • idem, 24°16’27.7”S 48°25’19.3”O; 22.i.2010 ; 1 ♂. Santa Catarina: • Rio dos Cedros, 600m; 26°42 44.48S 49°20’57.95”W; 29.xii.2020 - 06.i.2021 ; 1 ♀; L. Queiros- Santos leg.; UFPR; DZUP.

Comments. Almost nothing is known about the biology of this species, larvae are unknown. The most effective capture methods for adults are light traps and Malaise. This species occurs in the South, Southeast and Northeast geopolitical regions of Brazil. The presence of repagula is shown in this study for the first time ( Fig. 7B ).

Regarding the type series, McLachlan (1871) stated: “Burmeister’s examples were probably females, although he indicates that he had seen both sexes”. In fact, as verified in the type material deposited at the MCZ, Burmeister described this species based on three females, meaning that the distinct setae on the male’s antennae were only noticed by van der Weele (1908), but had never been properly described and illustrated in the literature, until now ( Fig. 18C ).

No specimen was indicated in the original publication as the holotype and therefore, according to the code 74.1 of the ICZN, the MCZ-ENT 0010525 specimen housed in the MCZ is herein designated as the lectotype, as it is the only one of the type series that has the antennae attached. Oswald (2022) cites the existence of a female syntype hosted at the Martin-Luther-Universität, Zoological Museum, Halle-Wittenberg , Sachsen-Anhalt, but it was not possible to analyze it .

Another noteworthy observation is the presence of a specimen (CASENT 8472562) identified as A. macrocerca collected in Ecuador and housed at the CAS Entomology collection (https://www.gbif.org/ occurrence/3080511303). The study of photographs of this specimen revealed that it is actually a male of Ameropterus dissimilis, the confusion was probably due to the thick setae on male’s antennae of these two species (see the discussion of morphological characters below).

Figures

Figure 1 Adult males of Ascalorphne macrocerca (Burmeister, 1839) (A) and Ascalorphne impavida (B) (Myrmeleontidae:Ascalaphinae: Ululodini).Photos: Lucas Rubio.

Figure 2 Ascalaphus macrocercus Burmeister, 1839 [= Ascalorphne macrocerca (Burmeister,1839)], lectotype,female,MCZ.A) Fore and hind wing B) Body,dorsal;C) Body, lateral; D) Antennal club; E) Head, frontal; F) Labels.

Figure 3 Terminalia /genitalia ofAscalorphne macrocerca (Burmeister,1839).Male (A- D): A) Terminalia,lateral view; B) Idem,ventral view;C) Gonarcus-paramere complex, ventral view; D) Idem, lateral view. Female (E-F): E) Lateral view; F) Ventral view. D: distivalve, E: ectoproct, GX: gonocoxite, L: liguella, P: pelta, PU: pulvinus, S: sternite T:tergite, SP:spermatheca.

Figure 7 Abdomen of gravid females of A) Ascalorphne impavida (Walker, 1853); and B) Ascalorphne macrocerca (Burmeister, 1839), showing the fertilized eggs and the repagula.E:fertilized eggs, R: repagula.

Figure 12 Distribution map of the genus Ascalorphne Banks, 1915 (Myrmeleontidae: Ascalaphinae:Ululodini).

Figure 15 Ventral view of the male and female terminalia of neotropical tribes of Ascalaphinae (Neuroptera:Myrmeleontidae).Males terminalia (A-E):A)Dimares elegans (Perty, 1833), the gonarcus-paramere complex is removed; B) Fillus amazonicus Machado & Rafael, 2011; C)Haploglenius costatus (Burmeister,1839); D)Albardia furcata van der Weele, 1903; E) Ululodes sp. Smith, 1900. Female terminalia (F-J). From left to right, in the same species order as above; except for J) Ascalorphne macrocerca (Burmeister, 1839). D: distivalve, E: ectoproct, GX:gonocoxite, I: interdens, L: liguella, P: pulvinus, S: sternite, T: tergite.

Figure 18 Antennal pilosity of males ofAscalorphne Banks,1915 and Ameropterus dissimilis (McLachlan,1871). A)Ascalorphne impavida (Walker,1853); B)Ascalorphne umbrina (Gerstaecker, 1894); C) Ascalorphne macrocerca (Burmeister, 1839); D) Ameropterus dissimilis.