Neuroleon assimilis (Navás, 1914)

Badano, Davide & Pantaleoni, Roberto Antonio, 2014, The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera), Zootaxa 3762 (1), pp. 1-71 : 27-30

Neuroleon assimilis (Navás, 1914)

( Figs. 3E , 14 )

The larva of this species is described for the first time.

Examined specimens. Greece. Corfu , Agia Varvara, V.2012 (D. Badano), 1 L3 laboratory-reared to adult. Corfu, Acharavi, rock escarpment, V.2012 (D. Badano), 2 L3. Corfu, Lafki, rock escarpment, V.2012 (D. Badano), 1 L3 and 1 L3 laboratory-reared to adult. Corfu, Kato Pavliana, rock overhang, V.2012 (D. Badano), 1 L3. Corfu, Kato Garouna, rock overhang, V.2012 (D. Badano), 1 L3 .

Description of 3 rd instar larva. Size (based on 5 specimens): BL 8.52 mm; HL 2.21 mm (1.96–2.33), HW 1.75 mm (1.70–1.87), ML 2.00 mm (1.9–2.08), HW/HL 0.79, ML/HL 0.90. General colouring pale brown mottled with dark brown, ventral side very pale with conspicuous dark brown markings; head capsule dorsally dark brown with a darker V-shaped marking on the occipital area ( Fig. 14b ), lateral sides with dark brown markings, ventral side of the head paler with a pair of elongated marking in the gular area, and two median dark spots (fainted in some individuals) ( Fig. 14c ); labial palpi dark brown ( Fig. 14d ); mandibles brown with basal dark spots; legs pale; setae of the body black. Head longer than wide; dorsal side of the head capsule with a thick covering of short dolichasters; mandibles comparatively thin, slightly shorter than the head capsule ( Fig. 14a ); distance between mandible base and basal tooth equal to that between basal and apical teeth; interdental mandibular setae (+5)(1)(1)(0). Mesothoracic spiracles brown. IX abdominal sternite with two rastra equipped with 4 digging setae, internal seta shortest ( Figs. 3E , 14e ).

Bio-ecology. The biology of this species is unknown. The larvae were collected on escarpments and under rock overhangs in Mediterranean environments such as open woods, scrublands, garrigues and arid grasslands.

Distribution. This species is reported from Greece, Anatolia, Syria, Iran and Armenia.

Remarks. The larva of N. assimilis is identifiable thanks to the comparatively straight and thin mandibles and the pair of spots on the ventral side of the head.

Figures

FIGURE 3. IX and VIII abdominal sternite of 3rd instar larva of Dendroleontini and Nemoleontini. A, Dendroleon pantherinus; B, Nemoleon notatus; C, Distoleon tetragrammicus; D, Creoleon lugdunensis; E, Neuroleon assimilis; F, Macronemurus appendiculatus; G, Megistopus lucasi; H, Gymnocnemia variegata. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 14. Neuroleon assimilis (Navás, 1915), 3rd instar larva (Greece: Corfu, Kato Pauliana). Dorsal (above), ventral (middle) and lateral (below) view; a–e: diagnostic characters, see species description.