Libelloides siculus (Angelini, 1827)

Badano, Davide & Pantaleoni, Roberto Antonio, 2014, The Larvae of European Ascalaphidae (Neuroptera), Zootaxa 3796 (2), pp. 287-319 : 313

Libelloides siculus (Angelini, 1827)

( Figs. 1D , 16 )

The larvae of this Sicilian endemic species are described here for the first time.

Examined specimens. Italy. Sicily, 19 L3 laboratory-reared from a female collected in Madonie (PA), VI.2010 (M. Romano) .

Description of 3 rd instar larva. Size (based on 19 specimens): BL 9.72 mm; HL 2.06 mm (1.87–2.22), HW 2.50 mm (2.25–2.70), ML 2.37 mm (2.19–2.58), HW/HL 1.21, ML/HL 1.15. General colouring greyish ochre thickly mottled with grey, dorsal side with a median paler stripe, ventral side paler, mottled with grey; dorsal side of the head capsule dark brown with conspicuous yellow markings ( Fig. 16b ), ventral side dark brown with two pale longitudinal markings ( Fig. 16d ), mandibles dark brown; legs with dark brown coxae and yellowish femora, tibiae and tarsi ( Fig. 16e ); setae of the body black. Head wider than long, slightly dilated posteriorly; mandibles slightly longer than the head capsule ( Fig. 16a ); interdental pseudo-teeth: (~4)(~2)(0–1); external margin of the mandible with short setae. Thorax and its scolus-like processes yellowish, visually distinct from the greyish abdomen ( Fig. 16c ); pronotum dark brown with yellow stripes and covered with short setae; mesothoracic spiracles yellow with black apex. Abdominal spiracles dark brown; VIII sternite with brown spots covering the short odontoid processes; IX sternite yellowish ( Fig. 1D ).

Bio-ecology. This species inhabits open, grassy habitats from the sea-level to the mountains (Madonie, Peloritani, Etna). The larvae are soil dwelling ambush hunters, as the other members of the genus.

Distribution. L. siculus is an endemism of Sicily and nearby islands.

Remarks. The larva of L. siculus is recognizable for the pale longitudinal markings on the ventral side of the head and the yellowish colour of the head markings, thorax and legs. The above mentioned characters also clearly differentiate L. siculus from the closely related but allopatric L. ictericus and L. corsicus . Notably, this species shares its range with only one congener, L. coccajus .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Taxonomic characters of Ascalaphidae larvae. A, Deleproctophylla australis dorsal and ventral view; B, head of Ascalaphus festivus; C, head of Puer maculatus; D, VIII and IX sternites of Libelloides siculus.

FIGURE 16. Libelloides siculus (Angelini, 1827), 3rd instar larva (Italy: Sicily, Madonie). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–e: diagnostic characters, see species description.