Myrmeleon gerlindae Hölzel, 1974

Badano, Davide & Pantaleoni, Roberto Antonio, 2014, The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera), Zootaxa 3762 (1), pp. 1-71 : 54

Myrmeleon gerlindae Hölzel, 1974

( Figs. 5B , 6B , 27 )

The larva of this species is described for the first time, as the account by Hölzel (1974) actually refers to Myrmecaelurus trigrammus .

Examined specimens. Italy. Liguria, Bordighera (Imperia), Monte Nero , scrubland, VIII.2010 (D. Badano), 3 L3 . Sardinia, Alghero (Sassari), Capocaccia , coastal juniper thicket, VI.2010, 1 L3 and 1 L3 laboratory-reared to adult ; same locality, V.2012 (D. Badano), 11 L3 .

Description of 3 rd instar larva. Size (based on 15 specimens): BL 7.68 mm; HL 1.85 mm (1.58–2.00), HW 1.60 mm (1.44–1.73), ML 1.77 mm (1.62–1.92), HW/HL 0.86, ML/HL 0.96. General colouring dark brown with darker markings, ventrally paler with large dark areas; dorsal side of the head capsule with a pair of dark markings, lateral side of the head with large dark markings, ventral side of the head with an anterior pair of dark markings surrounding the gula and two median dark spots ( Figs. 5B , 27c ); mandibles pale brown; pro- and mesothoracic pair of legs pale, metathoracic legs with spotted coxae but unmarked femora ( Fig. 27d ); setae of the body black. Head slightly longer then wide; mandibles as long as the head capsule ( Fig. 27a ); interdental mandibular setae: (+6)(2– 3)(2–3)(1), dorsal side of the mandible covered by sparse short setae, ventral side with a sparse covering of short setae external to the maxilla, reaching the basal tooth and few isolated setae (or no one) disposed internal to the maxilla ( Figs. 5B , 27b ). IX abdominal sternite with an anterior row of digging setae composed by 4 setae divided in 2 groups and with two sessile rastra each bearing 4 digging setae ( Figs. 6B , 27e ).

Bio-ecology. This poorly known antlion is apparently an ecological vicariant of the closely related M. formicarius , replacing the latter in xeric biotopes. M. gerlindae is associated with arid woods and scrublands. The larvae build their pits in sheltered sites such as at the base of trees, under bushes or rock overhangs.

Distribution. M. gerlindae is a typical W-Mediterranean faunal element, reported for Morocco, Iberian Peninsula, southern France, Sardinia and western Liguria (north-west Italy).

Remarks. Mainly recognizable due to the pigmentation of legs.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Head of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini, ventral view; A, Myrmeleon formicarius; B, Myrmeleon gerlindae; C, Myrmeleon punicanus; D, Myrmeleon bore; E, Myrmeleon inconspicuus; F, Myrmeleon mariaemathildae; G, Myrmeleon hyalinus; H, Myrmeleon fasciatus; I, Euroleon nostras.

FIGURE 6. IX abdominal sternite of 3rd instar larvae of Myrmeleontini, ventral view; A, Myrmeleon gerlindae; B, Myrmeleon punicanus; C, Myrmeleon formicarius; D, Myrmeleon bore; E, Myrmeleon inconspicuus; F, Myrmeleon mariaemathildae; G, Myrmeleon hyalinus; H, Myrmeleon fasciatus; I, Euroleon nostras. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 27. Myrmeleon gerlindae Hölzel, 1974, 3rd instar larva (Italy: Sardinia, Alghero, Capo Caccia). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–e: diagnostic characters, see species description.