Indophanes Banks, 1940

Suryanarayanan, Thangalazhi Balakrishnan, Ábrahám, Levente & Bijoy, Chenthamarakshan, 2025, Description of two new species of Indophanes Banks, 1940 (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae) from India, Zootaxa 5696 (1), pp. 83-101 : 84-96

Genus Indophanes Banks, 1940

Comments. The genus Indophanes was revised by Zheng & Liu (2023) based on the morphological characteristics of the adults. Two new species and the characteristics of the 3rd instar larva were also described from China. During the revision, the taxonomic status of the previously synonymized genus ( Stange 2004) was restored, and differential characteristics from the genus Indoleon Banks, 1913 were reported in the generic diagnosis. We agree with Zheng & Liu (2023) that the genera known from the Oriental area (e.g. Delgadus Navás, 1914 , Indoleon Banks, 1913 , Indophanes Banks, 1940 , Negrokus Navás, 1930 , Paraglenurus van der Weele, 1909 , Yunleon Yang, 1986 , and Thaumatoleon Esben-Petersen, 1921 ) need further revision, and the generic characteristics should be further investigated.

Key to the Indian Indophanes Banks, 1940 species

1. In forewing, origin of radius sector and meeting point of Cua 2 and Cup+A 1 in line; row of graduate veins with concave curved brown pattern ( Fig. 10C )................................................................. I. infesta (Walker)

- In forewing, radius sector originated before meeting point of Cua 2 and Cup+A 1, row of graduate veins without prominent concave curved brown pattern............................................................................ 2

2. Pronotum with clearly visible wide yellow medial band....................................................... 3

- Pronotum predominantly dark brown with narrow yellow medial band, meso- and metanotum dark brown with small yellow spots ( Fig. 6B ).................................................................... I. sahyadriensis sp. nov.

3. Number of cross-veins greater than 10 before origin of radius sector in forewing ( Fig. 10A )............ I. audax (Walker)

- Number of cross-veins less than 10 before origin of radius sectorin forewing...................................... 4

4. Meso- and metanotum with three brown bands, one medial and two lateral bands ( Fig. 10B ).......... I. barbara (Walker)

- Meso- and metanotum with only two lateral brown bands ( Fig. 2B )............................ I. keralaensis sp. no v.

Figures

FIGURES 2A–E. Indophanes keralaensis sp. nov. A—Head in frontal view. B—Head and thorax in dorsal view. C—Male wing venation. D—Foreleg. E—Hindleg in lateral view. Abbreviations. C—Costa; Sc—Subcosta; R—Radius; Mp—Media posterior; Cua1—Cubitus anterior 1; Cua2—Cubitus anterior 2; Cup+A1—Cubitus posterior + Anal vein 1.

FIGURES 6A–E. Indophanes sahyadriensis sp. nov. A—Head in frontal view. B—Head and thorax in dorsal view. C—Male wing venation. D—Foreleg. E—Hindleg in lateral view.

FIGURES 10A–C. Wings pattern of Indophanes species. A—Indophanes audax (Walker, 1853) (NHMUK). B—Indophanes barbara (Walker, 1853) (NHMUK). C—Indophanes infesta (Walker, 1853) (NHMUK). Scale: 10 mm.