Ameropterus dissimilis (McLachlan, 1871)

Ardila-Camacho, Adrian, Noriega, Jorge Ari & Acevedo-Ramos, Fernando, 2019, New genera records of split-eyed owlflies (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Ascalaphinae) from Colombia, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (Pap. Avulsos Zool., S. Paulo) 59, pp. 1-18 : 9-12

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11606/1807-0205/2019.59.51
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D4D09B75-9A38-4F8B-A507-09BAAC72909C
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8D1B4572-FFE6-FFE7-D4C8-351897E7CC1E
treatment provided by	Valdenar
scientific name	Ameropterus dissimilis (McLachlan, 1871)
status

Treatment

Ameropterus dissimilis (McLachlan, 1871) View in CoL ( Figs. 5 View Figure 5 , 6 View Figure 6 , 10 View Figure 10 )

Colobopterus dissimilis McLachlan, 1871 [1873]: 251. “ Amazonas, Bates, 1861, Colobopterus dissimilis det. McLachLan, ♂ (type)” (HOPE).

Ameropterus dissimilis (McLachlan, 1871) View in CoL . Penny, 1977: 10.

Specimens examined: Colombia, Amazonas, Leticia, Reserva Tanimboca, XII.2015, A. Aristizabal leg. (1 ♂ -CAUD).

Diagnosis: Median region of antennal flagellum distinctively curved; apical club ovoid, brown with median region cream coloured; forewing semitriangular, axillary angle slightly developed, followed by a wide concavity and a broadened lobe slightly beyond the origin of RP from RP level; hind wing narrow to semitriangular, posterior wing margin with basal lobe moderately developed, followed by a wide concavity and sometimes a moderate to well-developed lobe, slightly beyond the origin of RP from RA level when present. Area between MP and posterior wing margin beyond the apex of CuA with two rows of cells; sternite IX elongated, basal half subparallel-sided, distal half pentagonal, paramere-gonarcus complex acuminate in lateral view, gonarcus apex curved ventrad in lateral view.

Redescription

Measurements: interocular distance: 2.4 mm; head width: 3.9 mm; antenna length: 22.58 mm; body length: 21.35 mm; forewing length: 18.58-20.32 mm; forewing maximum width: 4.73-5.75 mm; hind wing length: 16.73-17.25 mm; hind wing maximum width: 3.26-4.38 mm.

Head: Labrum narrow with anterior margin concave, lateral margins rounded, light brown with fine light brown setae; clypeus brown with lateral tufts of long, thin, interspersed pale and dark brown setae; frons brown with abundant brown pilosity; gena brown with interspersed long, pale,and dark brown setae ( Fig. 5C View Figure 5 ); anterior part of vertex brown with dense tufts of interspersed pale,black, and dark brown setae; posterior portion of vertex,brown, glabrous; occiput bicolour ( Fig. 5E View Figure 5 ), with light and dark brown, glabrous; scape and pedicel brown with abundant, long, interspersed brown and black setae ( Fig. 5C View Figure 5 ); antennal flagellum with 44 flagellomeres including the apical knob, which is composed of nine flagellomeres; flagellomeres of basal half of antenna three or four times as long as wide, dark reddish brown, each article with two to four apical stout black bristles, remainder surface with scattered fine, short setae; median region of the flagellum distinctively curved; flagellomeres of distal half of flagellum, excluding apical knob, five times as long as wide, nearly glabrous, light brown. Apical club ovoid, with basal ⅓ brown, median region cream coloured, and distal portion light brown ( Fig. 5F View Figure 5 ); entire surface with minute dark brown setae. Mandibles brown with amber apex; maxillary palpi light brown, basal palpomere with long black setae, remainder palpomeres with short, black setae; labial palpi light brown, the first palpomere with thick short setae, except apically with long, black setae, remainder palpomeres with minute, black setae. Compound eyes well developed, with deep median sulcus ( Fig. 5B View Figure 5 ), purplish.

Thorax: Prothorax brown, collar-like, covered with a dense layer of long dark brown or black setae.Mesonotum mostly brown, with lateral dark brown bands, posteri- or portion of scutellum dark brown, entire surface with a layer of long, brown setae; metanotum brown with posterior region of scutellum dark brown, setation as in mesonotum ( Fig. 5E View Figure 5 ). Pteropleura brown with abundant brown pilosity, some small portions with whitish pilosity ( Fig. 5B View Figure 5 ); ventral sclerites with dense white pilosity.

Legs: Fore coxa elongated, light brown; mid- and hind coxa brown, all of them covered with abundant white pilosity. Trochanter light brown. Fore femur light brown, dorsally with fine short pale setae, except at apex where are dark brown, ventrally with interspersed long, thin pale setae,and long,thick, dark brown setae;tibia brown, spotted with small light brown areas, entire surface with thick, long, dark brown bristles; tibial spurs light amber, arched, as long as the first four tarsomeres together; tarsi brown, covered with thick, short black setae, fifth tarsomere as long as the first four together. Tarsal claws light amber, as long as tibial spurs. Mid femur brown, ventral surface with thick, long dark brown bristles, entire surface with minute, pale setae; tibia with outer surface dashed with pale yellow and brown ( Fig. 5B View Figure 5 ), inner surface light brown, entire surface with interspersed long and thick and short and thick dark brown bristles; tibial spurs as in foreleg. Tarsi similar to those of foreleg. Hind femur elongated, brown with scattered, minute dark brown setae and fine pale setae, a few long dark brown bristles present; tibia pale yellow with brown infuscations, apex dark brown, outer surface with short, fine, dark brown setae, inner surface with long, thick, dark brown bristles; tibial spurs elongated, and straight, light amber; tarsi brown with dark brown apical ring, first tarsomere as long as the second and third together, fifth tarsomere as long as the first four together, all of them covered with short and thick dark brown setae; pretarsal claws elongated, light amber.

Wings: Forewing semitriangular, membrane hyaline to light amber, venation brown, with minute dark brown setae; axillary angle somewhat developed, followed by a wide concavity and a broadened lobe slightly beyond the origin of RP from RP level ( Fig. 5A View Figure 5 ). Costal area basally slightly widened, with 25 costal crosveins, those of the basal portion forming trapezoidal cells, and quadrate cells on the apex, remainder crossveins forming rectangular cells. Pterostigma pale, composed by five crossveins, apical area beyond pterostigma with two rows of cells. Area between R vein and MA before of fork of RP from RA with three crossveins. Area between RA and RP apically bent posteriorly below pterostigma, with 14 crossveins; RP with four branches. CuA fork located just before the level RP separation from RA. Area between CuA fork and posterior wing margin with five rows of cells; Cu area with five crossveins; CuP reaching the posterior wing margin at the level of RP origin from RA; area between CuP and posterior wing margin with five crossveins. Hind wing shorter than forewing, narrow to semitriangular, membrane hyaline to light amber, venation brown with minute dark brown setae; posterior wing margin with basal lobe moderately developed, followed by a wide concavity and sometimes by a moderate to well-developed lobe, slightly beyond the origin of RP from RA level when present ( Fig. 5A View Figure 5 ). Costal area narrow, with 25 crossveins, those at the basal portion forming trapezoidal, remainder crossveins forming rectangular cells; pterostigma cream coloured, slightly light brown infuscated, composed of four crossveins; area beyond the pterostigma with two rows of cells. Area between R vein and MA before of fork of RP from RA with single crossvein. Area between RA and RP apically bent posteriorly below pterostigma, with 13 crossveins. RP with five forks. Area between MP and posterior wing margin beyond the apex of CuA with two rows of cells; CuA reaching posterior wing margin beyond the origin of RP from RA level; CuP reaching the wing margin slightly beyond the wing base.

Abdomen: Shorter than forewings, tergite of abdominal segment II with lateral dark brown bands, light brown at middle, entire surface covered with dark brown setae; tergites of abdominal segments III and IV light brown with brown infuscations at margins, paired posterolateral, elongated dark brown spots ( Fig. 5D View Figure 5 ), anterolateral corners with a dark brown spot on each side; tergites of abdominal segments V-VIII light brown, with brown infuscations on margins, posterolaterally with an elongated dark brown spot on each side; all the tergites covered with short, dark brown setae. Sternite of abdominal segment II light brown with long hair-like, pale setae; remainder sternites light brown with brown infuscations, entire surface covered with short, dark brown setae.

Male genitalia: Ectoproct elongated, ovoid, densely covered with thick, long dark brown bristles, area adjacent to anal tubercle with fine, thin, pale setae ( Fig. 6A View Figure 6 ). Tergite IX posteroventrally rounded and covered with short dark, brown setae. Sternite IX spoon-shaped in lateral view, apex reaching to slightly before the level of posterior margin of ectoproct ( Fig. 6A View Figure 6 ); in ventral view elongated, basal half subparallel-sided, distal half pentagonal, area adjacent to posterior margins with thick, long dark brown bristles, remainder surface with short dark brown setae ( Fig. 6B View Figure 6 ). Paramere-gonarcus complex acuminate in lateral view, gonarcus apex distinctively curved ventrad in lateral view ( Fig. 6E View Figure 6 ); gonarcus well sclerotized, arched, lateral arms expanded, narrow medially, posteriorly acuminate in dorsal view ( Fig. 6C View Figure 6 ); parameres narrow, elongated, dark, pelta membranous, with minute spinulae ( Fig. 6D View Figure 6 ).

Remarks: Ameropterus dissimilis presents remarkable morphological variation in hindwing shape and color. The wing membrane may vary from hyaline to light amber. The females have the hind wing generally narrower than males, however, there are also males with narrow hind wing. Some male specimens have the hind wing trianguloid, with one or two rows of cells on the area between MP and posterior wing margin beyond apex of CuA ( Fig. 5A View Figure 5 ).

Distribution: Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Suriname.

Comparative material: Brazil, Rondonia, Fazenda Rancho Grande , 62 km S. Ariquemes, 12⁓ 22.XI.1991, L.G. Bezark and D.E. Russell, Hg vapor light, Ameropterus dissimilis Det. Penny, 1992 (CAS) ; Rondonia, Faz. Rancho Grande, 62 km S. Ariquemes, 10°32’S, 62°48’W, 05⁓ 15.X.1993, C. and K. Messenger Leg. Ameropterus dissimilis Det. Penny, 1994 (CAS) GoogleMaps . Suriname, 10.IX.1942, Geijskes (1 ♂ - MCZ) .