Baliga asakurae ( Okamoto, 1910 )

Lin, Yu-Hsiu, Liao, Jhih-Rong & Ko, Chiun-Cheng, 2021, Fig. 5 in Periclimenaeus karantina Park & De Grave 2021, sp. nov., Zoological Studies 60 (39), pp. 1-24 : 3-7

Baliga asakurae ( Okamoto, 1910) ( Figs. 3A , 4A , 5 )

Stange et al. (2003) provided simple descriptions of the larvae, and mainly focused on the coloring and body markings. Hayashi et al. (2020) also provided a detailed description of the larvae. The examined larval specimens were identified by using molecular characters.

Description of 3rd instar larva: Size: Average body length 10.38 mm (7.95–11.75); head length 2.39 mm (2.10–2.69), head width 2.00 mm (1.63–2.19), mandible length 2.83 mm (2.28–3.11), ratio head width/ length 0.84, ratio mandible length/head length 1.19.

General coloring: Ochre, with dark brown markings, ventral side paler.

Head: Sub-rectangular, longer than wide. Sparsely covered with black setae. Ocular tubercle sessile. Mandibles slender, reddish brown, slightly longer than the head capsule, provided with 3 equidistant teeth with the apical tooth slightly stronger. Interdental mandibular setae: (8–12)(2–3)(1–2)(1). Clypeo-labrum and the base of internal margin of the mandibles with long dolichasters. External margin of the mandible with a fringe of long setae, dorsal side of the mandible covered with short setae, ventral side of the mandible with a covering of short setae on both external and internal to the maxilla, reaching the basal tooth. Labial palpus 4-articulated, with fringe of black setae underneath, few extending over labial palpus. Dorsal side of the head capsule with a dark medial band on the clypeo-labrum, followed by a pair of dark brown spots on the anterior side of head capsule, posterior side with a pair of dark triangular markings and a pair of short brown stripe on the external margin. Lateral side of the head with a faint brown spot near the middle and a dark spot on the posterior side extending toward the dorsal side of the head capsule. Ventral side of the head with an anterior pair of small, dark triangular spots and a pair of outwardly curved dark brown band covering the posterior half reaching markings on the lateral side of the head capsule.

Thorax: Pronotum with two pairs of brown stripes, covered with short setae. Body setae black.

Legs: Pale brown, hind legs with brown spots on the apical end of coxae and femur.

Abdomen: Setae black. VIII abdominal sternite with a pair of black spots, odontoid processes distinct, posterior margin with hair-like setae. IX abdominal sternite elongated, with a pair of outwardly curved pale brown stripes, covered with hair-like setae, digging setae absent, or with few reduced digging setae. Rastra sessile, each bearing 3 peg-like digging setae with the external ones longer, 1 seta on the external side.

Materials examined: Taiwan. Nantou County. Xitou Nature Education Area, Lugu Township / 18. X. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3; same locality / 19. X. 2019 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3. New Taipei City. Bali District 3rd Cemetery, Bali District / 24. II. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 1 L3. Taipei City. Fujhoushan Park, Da’an District / 17. III. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 4 L3. Guiziken Trail, Beitou District / 29. II. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 9 L3. Taitung County. Hongtou Forest Trail, Lanyu Township / 16. VII. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 4 L3. Iraraley (Langdao) Village, Lanyu Township / 17. VII. 2020 / Y. H. Lin leg., 2 L3.

Bio-ecology: B. asakurae is an inland species, found in forest from sea-level to altitude around 1,400 m a.s.l.. The larvae build pitfall in protected environments such as under rock overhangs, under artificial buildings, and underneath the root of trees. When disturbed, the larvae will curl up their bodies and stay still, making them similar to the gravels in the surrounding environment. This behavior is also observed in the larvae of M. alticolus and M. bimaculatus .

Distribution: Endemic to Taiwan, also in the surrounding island—Lanyu.

Remarks: The larvae of this species are similar to those of M. alticolus , but differ in the shape of setae on the clypeo-labrum and on the base of the mandibles, because B. asakurae has long dolichasters and M. alticolus has pointed setae. These species also differ in the number of digging setae on the rastra, because B. asakurae has 3 digging setae on each rastrum while M. alticolus has 4 digging setae; the two species also inhabits similar environments at different altitudes. This species is also similar to B. micans in the overall shape of the head and mandibles and the long dolichasters on the clypeo-labrum (see Matsura 1987: figs. 1, C, F, Hayashi et al. 2020: fig. 7), but the head markings on B. asakurae are broader.

The figures stated the larvae of B. asakurae in Stange et al. (2003) were incorrect, and appeared to be the larvae of M. wangi .

Figures

Fig. 3. Head of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini of Taiwan, ventral view; A, Baliga asakurae; B, Myrmeleon alticolus; C, Myrmeleon bimaculatus; D, Myrmeleon heppneri; E, Myrmeleon littoralis; F, Myrmeleon persimilis; G, Myrmeleon punctinervis; H, Myrmeleon taiwanensis; I, Myrmeleon wangi. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. IX abdominal sternite of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini of Taiwan, ventral view; A, Baliga asakurae; B, Myrmeleon alticolus; C, Myrmeleon bimaculatus; D, Myrmeleon heppneri; E, Myrmeleon littoralis; F, Myrmeleon persimilis; G, Myrmeleon punctinervis; H, Myrmeleon taiwanensis; I, Myrmeleon wangi. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 5. Baliga asakurae (Okamoto, 1910), 3rd instar larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.