Layahima yangi Wan & Wang, 2006

Zheng, Yuchen, Tu, Yuezheng, Badano, Davide & Liu, Xingyue, 2025, New insights into diversity and evolution of the Oriental antlion genus Layahima Navás, 1912 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), with description of new species and new larvae from China, Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 83, pp. 543-571 : 543-571

Layahima yangi Wan & Wang, 2006

Figures 11 B , 14 , 15 , 16

Layahima yangi Wan & Wang in Wan et al. 2006: 42 (type locality: China: Guangxi, Pingxiang; holotype in CAU). Wang et al. 2018: 66 ( Layahima). Zheng et al. 2023: 58 ( Layahima).

Diagnosis.

Adult: See Zheng et al. (2023). — Larva: Head pale yellow, anteromedially with a pair of connected dark brown markings, and other part with many dark brown dots in dorsal view; lateral margin with a pair of oblique dark brown markings. Dolichasters on clypeo-labrum mostly pale. Mandible pale yellow with reddish brown markings. Basally with six to seven interdental mandibular setae; three short interdental mandibular setae between first and second teeth; one seta between second and third teeth (Fig. 15 A, B ). Thoracic setiferous processes long digitiform, meso- and metathorax each with anterior setiferous processes posteriorly curved, nearly twice as long as the posterior one. Mesothoracic posterior setiferous processes anteriorly curved (Fig. 15 C ). Abdomen rounded; setiferous processes short digitiform, processes on further posterior segment shorter; dorsally pale blue and pale yellow with many dark markings; ventrally without marking, green and pale yellow (Fig. 14 A, B ); Segment 9 dorsally with four digging setae, rastrum distally with four pair of tapered digging setae (Fig. 15 D ).

Description of 3 rd instar larva.

Size. Body length (excluding mandible): 10.20 mm; head length: 2.36 mm; head width: 2.58 mm; mandible length: 3.24 mm. — Head. Nearly rectangular in dorsal view, wider than long, pale yellow with some dark markings. Clypeo-labrum dark brown, with pale dolichasters. Head pale yellow, anteromedially with a pair of connected dark brown markings, and other part with many dark brown dots in dorsal view; lateral margin with a pair of oblique dark brown markings; ventrally without marking. Antenna slender. Ocular tubercles well prominent, ocular peduncle dark brown. Mandible pale yellow with reddish brown markings; basally with six to seven interdental mandibular setae; first tooth shorter than second tooth; second tooth nearly as long as third tooth; three short interdental mandibular setae between first and second teeth; one seta between second and third teeth. Labial palps pale brown (Figs 14 , 15 A, B ). — Thorax. Laterally with pale setae. Thoracic setiferous processes long digitiform. Pronotum pale yellow, medially with a pair of closed black stripes, laterally with irregular black markings. Mesothorax with spiracles present on short sclerotized tubercle, basally dark brown and pale yellow, distally pale, tip dark brown. Meso- and metanotum medially pale blue and laterally pale yellow, with many black markings; meso- and metathorax each with anterior setiferous processes posteriorly curved, mostly pale yellow, nearly twice as long as the posterior one; posterior setiferous processes mostly dark brown. Mesothoracic posterior setiferous processes anteriorly curved (Figs 14 A , 15 C ). — Legs. Pale yellow, with many slender and short tapered setae (Fig. 14 B, C ). — Abdomen. Rounded, dorsally pale blue and pale yellow with many dark markings; ventrally green and pale yellow, without marking. A pair of large spiracles present on laterodorsal abdominal segment 1. Setiferous processes short digitiform, processes on further posterior segment shorter (Fig. 14 A, B ). Segment 9 dorsally with four digging setae; ventrally with seven tapered setae of uneven size, the external row of setae largest, the internal row of setae smallest; rastrum distally with four pair of tapered digging setae (Fig. 15 D ).

Type material.

Holotype ♀, CHINA: Guangxi, Chongzuo, Pingxiang City [凭祥市], 16. V. 1963, Chikun Yang ( CAU) . Other type specimens were examined in Zheng et al. (2023).

Additional material examined.

Larva: 1 3 rd instar larva, CHINA: Guangxi, Guilin, Lingchuan County [灵川县], Sanjie Town [三街镇], 18. IV. 2024, Haofei Fan ( ZCAU) .

Distribution.

China ( Guangxi); Vietnam ( Hoa Binh) (Fig. 18 ).

Bio-ecology.

The only known larva of this species was found anchored on a vertical limestone surface, with its body attached to green mosses (Fig. 16 ). This behavior resembles that of some owlfly larvae (e. g., Puer Lefèbvre, 1842 ) (Badano & Pantaleoni, 2014 b), and some antlion larvae ( Gatzara Navás, 1915 , Nepsalus Navás, 1914 , and Jaffuelia Navás, 1918 ) ( Zheng et al. 2022, 2024; Stange et al. 1994, 2003).

Figures

Figure 11. Habitus of adults of Layahima spp. associated with larvae: A L. lhoba Zheng, Badano & Liu, 2023; B L. yangi Wan & Wang, 2006.

Figure 14. Habitus of Layahima yangi Wan & Wang, 2006, third instar larva: A Dorsal view, B ventral view, C lateral view.

Figure 15. Layahima yangi Wan & Wang, 2006, third instar larva: A Head, dorsal view; B head, ventral view; C thorax, dorsal view, on black background; D abdominal segments 8–9, ventral view.

Figure 16. Living third larva of Layahima yangi Wan & Wang, 2006: A Habitat, limestone in Guilin (Guangxi); B Living 3 rd larva on the limestone surface (photos by Haofei Fan).

Figure 18. Distribution map of Layahima spp.