Layahima haohani, Zheng & Tu & Badano & Liu, 2025

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 haohani sp. nov.

Figures 2 D , 8

Diagnosis.

Adult: Body pale yellow with dark markings. Vertex with three transversal black markings. Pronotum with three longitudinal black stripes, the middle one discontinuous, posterior margin mostly black (Fig. 8 C ). Forewing radial area distally with two indistinct dark brown markings, rhegma and basal cubital markings distinct. Hindwing radial area distally with an indistinct transversal dark brown stripe, marking of rhegma reaching wing margin (Figs 2 D , 8 A ). Female pregenital plate shaped as a rounded sclerotized plate with a vertical prominence (Fig. 8 D, E ).

Description.

Size. Head width: 2.12 mm; forewing length: 31.42 mm; hindwing length: 31.22 mm. — Head. Vertex pale yellow, with three transversal black markings. Scape mostly yellowish brown internally with a dark marking; pedicel mostly black; non-swollen part of flagellum brown, each flagellomere basally dark brown, swollen part of flagellum mostly black. A dark brown marking present around scape, anteriorly protruded. Frons and clypeus pale yellow. Labrum brown. Mandibles pale yellowish brown with distal half dark reddish brown. Maxillary palpus mostly yellowish brown, distal margin with a dark brown marking. Labial palpus generally yellowish brown (Fig. 8 B, C ). — Thorax. Pronotum with three longitudinal black stripes, the middle one discontinuous, posterior margin mostly black. Mesoprescutum mostly black, medially with a pale yellowish stripe, laterally with a pair of pale yellowish spots; mesonotum, medially mostly pale yellow, laterally mostly black with two pair of pale yellowish spots, lateral margin pale yellow; mesoscutellum black with a pair of pale yellowish markings. Metanotum black and pale yellow; metascutellum black with a pair of pale yellowish spots. Pleurae pale yellow and black (Fig. 8 C ). — Legs. Short, as long as thorax at most, with many dark setae. All tibial spurs slightly curved; tarsomeres 1–2 pale yellow; distally brown, tarsomeres 3–4 black; tarsomere 5 pale yellow, distally black, nearly as long as entire length of tarsomeres 2–4; pretarsal claws curved, dark reddish brown. Foreleg: coxa pale yellow with a black spot; femur mostly pale yellow; tibia pale yellow, basally and distally black; tibial spurs reaching tip of tarsomere 3. Midleg: Coxa pale yellow, black basally; femur basally pale yellow, distally dark brown; tibia pale yellow, basally and distally black; tibial spurs reaching tip of tarsomere 3. Hind leg: Coxa mostly pale yellow; femur pale yellow basally, other part black; tibia pale yellow, medially and distally black; tibial spurs reaching base of tarsomere 2; tarsomere 1 longer than that of fore- and midleg (Fig. 8 A ). — Wings. Mostly hyaline, with some dark brown markings. Banksian lines absent. Pterostigma pale. Forewing slightly longer than hindwing, posterior margin rounded; costal space distally with a few indistinct brown dots; subcostal area with a few dark brown spots; radial area distally with two indistinct dark brown markings; rhegma dark brown; mediocubital area with four indistinct dark brown spots; cubital area basally with a dark brown marking; costal crossveins generally simple; RP originates proximally to MP fork; four presectoral crossveins present, with one biareolate cell; RP with five to six branches. Hindwing radial area distally with an indistinct transversal dark brown stripe, marking of rhegma reaching wing margin; presectoral area with only one crossvein; RP originating anteriorly to MP fork (Figs 2 D , 8 A ). — Abdomen. Dark brown and pale yellow. Tergum 1 pale yellow medially with a subtriangular spot. Terga 2–8 mostly dark brown, each anterior and posterior margin pale yellow. — Male genitalia. Unknown. — Female genitalia. pregenital plate shaped as a rounded sclerotized plate with a vertical prominence. Gonocoxites 8 digitiform, slightly posterior curved; gonapophyses weakly sclerotized. Gonocoxites 9 with many tapered stout setae, slightly curved. Ectoproct slightly truncated (Fig. 8 D, E ).

Type material.

Holotype ♀, CHINA: Yunnan, Puer, Yunxian Township [云仙乡], Mamu Village [骂木村], 980 m, 9. IV. 2023 ( IZCAS).

Distribution.

China ( Yunnan) (Fig. 18 ).

Etymology.

The new species is dedicated to Mr. Haohan Mao (毛昊涵), who helped us in obtaining the holotype of this rare species, also collecting many myrmeleontid specimens for us.

Remarks.

The new species can be easily distinguished from other Layahima species by the markings on the body and wings, and the shape of female pregenital plate.

Figures

Figure 2. Habitus of Layahima spp. from China, adults: A L. chiangi Banks, 1941, male, Cawarong (Xizang); B L. chiangi, male, holotype (© D. Grimaldi from AMNH); C L. qilin sp. nov., male, holotype, Weixi (Yunnan); D L. haohani sp. nov., female, holotype, Puer (Yunnan); E L. pixiu sp. nov., female, holotype, Hutiaoxia (Yunnan); F L. zhitengi sp. nov., female, holotype, Fugong (Yunnan).

Figure 8. Layahima haohani sp. nov., adult: A Habitus, female, holotype; B head, frontal view; C head and thorax, dorsal view. D, E Female terminalia: D Lateral view, E ventral view.

Figure 18. Distribution map of Layahima spp.