Bubopsis agrionoides (Rambur, 1838)

Badano, Davide & Pantaleoni, Roberto Antonio, 2014, The Larvae of European Ascalaphidae (Neuroptera), Zootaxa 3796 (2), pp. 287-319 : 297-299

Bubopsis agrionoides (Rambur, 1838)

( Figs. 2B , 3B , 6 )

Larva of this species is described here for the first time.

Examined specimens. France. Hérault , Argelliers, Les Hauts de Boscorre, holm oak wood on limestones; VI.2011, (D. Badano & B. Michel) 3 L3 and 2 L2 laboratory-reared to L3; same locality VII.2011, (D. Badano), 1 L3 and 1 L2 laboratory-reared to L3 .

Description of 3 rd instar larva. Size (based on 7 specimens): BL 13.86 mm; HL 3.09 mm (2.90–3.34), HW 3.59 mm (3.32–3.82), ML 4.07 mm (3.89–4.25), HW/HL 1.32, ML/HL 1.16. General colouring ochre with extensive grey markings and spots, dorsal side of the head capsule grey with ochre markings, ventral side of the head grey, mandibles black; legs dark grey; body extensively covered by white dolichasters. Head wider than long, slightly dilated posteriorly with a deep dorsal posterior depression; ocular tubercles with an apical bulge ( Fig. 6b ); clypeo-labrum thickly covered by white dolichasters ( Fig. 6c ); mandibles noticeably longer than the head capsule, distal portion bent outward ( Fig. 6a ); teeth small, distance between the base of the mandible and the basal tooth larger than that between the teeth; interdental pseudo-teeth: (4–2)(5–2)(0); base of the mandible covered by white dolichasters; external margin of the mandible covered by short setae. Pronotum thickly covered by white dolichasters; mesothoracic spiracles yellowish; mesothoracic scolus-like processes bent backward; first pair of metathoracic scolus-like processes conspicuous, each process characterized by one anterior and one posterior protrusion ( Fig. 6d ); second pair very short, unnoticeable, cylindrical in shape ( Fig. 6e ). Abdominal spiracles disposed on the lateral sides, the pair on the 1 st abdominal segment situated slightly above the others; dorsal series of abdominal scolus-like processes conspicuous, each process with one anterior and one posterior protrusions; IX sternite with short rastra, surrounded by black robust setae ( Fig. 2B ).

Bio-ecology. B. agrionoides is associated with open, rocky Mediterranean biotopes, such as: scrublands, open woods and grasslands with isolated trees. The studied larvae were collected on the soil under large stones in barren calcareous areas surrounded by holm-oak hedges. The larvae are exclusively ambush predators and they camouflages themselves using the rock dust retained by the dolichasters. The development period of this species probably lasts two years, as suggested by the contemporary presence of L2, L3 and adults in the same period of the year.

Distribution. Western Mediterranean faunal element reported from southern France, Iberian Peninsula, Morocco and Lampedusa Island ( Italy).

Remarks. Larvae of the genus Bubopsis are poorly known. Besides B. agrionoides , only the larvae of B. andromache have been identified, although the existing description ( Pieper & Willmann 1980) is not adequate to differentiate the two species.

Figures

FIGURE 2. VIII and IX abdominal sternites of 3rd instar larva of Ascalaphidae. A, Ascalaphus festivus; B, Bubopsis agrionoides; C, Puer maculatus; D, Deleproctophylla australis; E, Libelloides macaronius. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Chaetotaxy of the VIII abdominal sternite of 3rd instar larva of Ascalaphidae. A, Ascalaphus festivus; B, Bubopsis agrionoides; C, Puer maculatus; D, Deleproctophylla australis; E, Libelloides longicornis. Scale bar: 100 µm.

FIGURE 6. Bubopsis agrionoides (Rambur, 1838), 3rd instar larva (France: Hérault, Argelliers). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–e: diagnostic characters, see species description.