Heoclisis fulva (Esben-Petersen)

Miller, Robert B. & Stange, Lionel A., 2012, The cave mouth antlions of Australia (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), Insecta Mundi 2012 (250), pp. 1-65 : 45

Heoclisis fulva (Esben-Petersen)

( Figures 95, 96)

Acanthaclisis fulva Esben-Petersen 1912: 269 . Holotype female, North Queensland (ZMUC). = Acanthaclisis peterseni Tillyard 1916: 66 . Holotype female, Cooktown, Queensland, I. 1908, R. Tillyard

(BMNH), after New 1985c: 57.

Description. Adult: length of body 45 to 55 mm; forewing length 53 to 74 mm, hindwing length 48 to 76 mm. Coloration: body and wings yellowish brown; antenna and face yellowish brown; abdomen yellow brown with each tergite with a pair of posterior black patches, midline irregular and narrowly black; wing venation yellowish brown, many intersections dark brown; legs with femur pale brown, tibia with one or two dark brown bands; apices of tarsomeres sometimes slightly darkened, sometimes tarsomere II to IV mostly dark brown. Chaetotaxy: face with white hairs, vertex with short black hairs; pronotum with dorsal hairs black, lateral setae white; thorax with mostly with white setae; femur and tibia with white hairs; male ectoproct with dorsal setae thickened; female with lateral gonapophysis with about six long thickened black setae. Structure: antenna with club moderately developed; pronotum longer than broad; wings very broad, somewhat falcate; legs short and stout, distal tarsomere about equal to other tarsomeres measured together; tibial spurs deep and strongly arched, extending about to apex of tarsomere III; pretarsal claws simple slightly shorter than tibial spurs; male with ventral expansion of ectoproct very long; sternite IX short; gonarcus short, with broad transverse apex; mediuncus a long slender dorsal spine; parameres broad with inner setose sclerotized rim and small ventral hooks; female with relatively short posterior gonapophysis. Larva: Coloration: body pink colored. Chaetotaxy: mandible with longest setae on lateral margin less than one-half greatest mandibular width ( Figure 95); head without dolichasters. Structure: labial palpus shorter than basal width of mandible; mesothoracic spiracle not borne on tubercle; sternite VIII without teeth on subapical margin.

New records. AUSTRALIA. Northern Territory: 16 km. south Renner Springs, 19. II. 1989, R. Miller (reared) (1f, FSCA). Queensland: Slaty Creek, 21 km south Flinders Highway, 9. IX. 2005, R. Miller, & L. Stange (reared) (1m, FSCA).

Discussion. This is the largest species of Heoclisis in Australia and is yellowish brown. The larvae live in Zone 3 which consists of deep sand in the center part of the cave and is protected from sunlight and rainfall. The pinkish larvae probably feed on other antlion larvae. Pinkish larvae were found in caves at the following localities: Queensland: Burra Creek, White Mts.; 21 Km. south Flinders, Slaty Creek. Northern Territory: Kakadu National Park; 16 km. south Renner Springs, 19. II. 1989. At Slaty Creek and Kakadu National Park, two species of larvae (l dark colored, the other pink) were found together.