Syngenes, Kolbe, 1897

Mansell, Mervyn W., 2018, Antlions of southern Africa: Syngenes Kolbe, 1897, with descriptions of two new species and comments on extra-limital taxa (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Acanthaclisini), Zootaxa 4497 (3), pp. 346-380 : 347-348

Key to species of Afrotropical Syngenes

1. Taxa from Africa...................................................................................... 2

- Taxa from Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands ............................................................. 6

2. Tibial spurs right-angular, with prominent internal flange ( Figs 4, 5 ); biaereolate cells present in costal area of forewing before Rs ( Fig. 3 ); abdomen with chevron-like pattern ( Fig. 11 ). Eastern African coastal belt, South Africa to Somalia............................................................................................. S. longicornis (Rambur) .

- Tibial spurs not sharply bent at a right angle, more evenly curved and lacking prominent triangular flanges............... 3

3. Biaereolate cells absent from costal area of forewing before Rs and rarely present before Rs2 ( Fig. 27 ); unbroken series of biaereolate costal cells only commencing beyond Rs2; tibial spurs slender, strongly curved (but not bent at right angle), with slight flange in forelegs ( Figs 28, 29 ); Central, South and Eastern Africa........................... S. medialis sp. nov.

- Biaereolate cells present in costal area of forewing before Rs or commencing at Rs with three or more before Rs2......... 4

4. Wings narrow relative to other Syngenes species ( Figs 44, 45 ); body black with bright yellow markings ( Figs 46 , 51 ). Namibia and Northern Cape Province, South Africa.................................................... S. scholtzi sp. nov.

- Wings broad; unbroken series of biaereolate cells present in forewing costal area from before Rs2 to pterostigma. Central and West Africa........................................................................................... 5

5. Costal area with 1–2 biaereolate cell before Rs in each forewing (based only on the Holotype from Congo) ( Figs 73, 74 ). Wings heavily marked............................................................. S. inquinatus (Gerstaecker) .

- Costal area with variable number of biaereolate cells (1–4) before Rs (based only on one syntype from Lagos, Nigeria), slender species, wings not heavily marked, spurs curved, slender ( Figs 76, 77 )......................... S. debilis (Gerstaecker) .

6. Forewing costal area with many (> 8) biaereolate cells before Rs.............................. S. dolichocercus Navás

- Forewing costal area with fewer (<6) biaereolate cells before Rs............................. S. maritimus (Needham)

Figures

FIGURES 3–6. Syngenes longicornis. 3, base of forewing showing main veins and biaereolate cells in subcostal area; 4, foreleg tibial spurs with flange and facial brush; 5, hind leg tibial spurs with flange; 6, labial palp with palpimacula. Abbreviations: A1 = First anal vein, C = Costal vein, CuA = Anterior cubital vein, CuP = Posterior cubital vein, Cc = Costal cell, Mp2 = branch of posterior medial vein (oblique vein), R = radial vein, Rs = Radial sector, Rs2 = second radial sector, Sc = Subcostal vein.

FIGURES 10–12. Syngenes longicornis. 10, abdomen dorsal with hair pencil details; 11, abdomen dorsal showing pattern; 12, third instar larva, photo: H. de Klerk©.

FIGURES 27–30. Syngenes medialis. 27, Holotype base of forewing, NEUR09562, showing absence of biaereolate cells to beyond Rs2; 28, foreleg tibial spurs and facial brush; 29, hind leg tibial spurs; 30, abdominal pattern, NEUR11845.

FIGURES 44–45. Syngenes scholtzi n.sp. 44, Holotype male, NEUR12250 (forewing length 43mm); 45, female paratype, NEUR11899 (forewing length 48mm).

FIGURES 46–47. Syngenes scholtzi. Holotype male, NEUR12250, living specimen, Verwater Pass, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. Photos: H. de Klerk©.

FIGURES 48–51. Syngenes scholtzi. 48, base of forewing showing biaereolate cells before Rs; 49, foreleg tibial spurs and facial brush; 50, hind leg tibial spurs; 51, abdomen dorsal showing pattern.

FIGURES 73–75. Acanthaclisis inquinatus Gerstaecker (Syngenes inquinatus). Female Holotype: 73, habitus 74, forewing details, 75, Associated labels. Photos: P. Michalik (EMAU).

FIGURES 76–79. Acanthacisis debilis Gerstaecker (Syngenes debilis). Male Syntype: 76, habitus; 77, forewing details; 78 & 79, associated labels. Photos: P. Michalik (EMAU).