Layahima lhoba Zheng, Badano & Liu, 2022

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 lhoba Zheng, Badano & Liu, 2022

Figures 9 , 10 , 11 A

Layahima lhoba Zheng et al. 2023: 56 (type locality: China: Xizang, Nyingchi, Bome County, Yiong Town, Tangmai Township, 2100 m, 6. VIII. 2020, Yuchen Zheng; holotype in CAU).

Diagnosis.

Adult: See Zheng et al. (2023). — Larva: Lateral body covered with many pale setae. Head pale yellow, medially with three pair of dark brown markings, laterally with a pair of dark brown stripes fused with the lateral markings in dorsal view. Dolichasters on clypeo-labrum dark and pale. Mandible mostly pale yellow, distally reddish brown. Three short interdental mandibular setae between first and second teeth; one seta between second and third teeth (Fig. 10 A, B ). Thoracic setiferous processes digitiform; anterior mesothoracic setiferous processes twice as long as others, curved; posterior mesothoracic setiferous processes nearly as long as others on metathorax. Meso- and metanotum, and dorsal abdominal medially pale, each segment with a pair of black markings (Fig. 10 C, D ). Abdomen with dozens black dots, abdominal setiferous processes tubercular (Fig. 9 A, B ). Segment 9 rastrum distally with five pair of tapered digging setae (Fig. 10 E ).

Description of 3 rd instar larva.

Size. Body length (excluding mandible): 4.32 mm; head length: 2.25 mm; head width: 2.27 mm; mandible length: 2.84 mm. Examined specimen discolored. — Head. Nearly rectangular in dorsal view, as long as wide, pale yellow and dark brown. Clypeo-labrum dark brown, with dark and pale dolichasters. Head pale yellow, medially with three pair of dark brown markings, laterally with a pair of dark brown stripes fused with the lateral markings in dorsal view, covered with pale setae laterally. Ventral head mostly pale yellow. Ocular tubercle prominent, ocular peduncle dark brown. Mandible mostly pale yellow with few irregular brown markings, distally reddish brown, basally with 3–4 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 palp dark brown (Figs 9 , 10 A, B ). — Thorax. Laterally with many pale setae. Thoracic setiferous processes digitiform, with dark brown dots. Pronotum pale yellow, medially with a forked dark brown marking, laterally with a pair of arched dark brown markings, covered with many dark and pale setae. Mesothorax with spiracles present on short, sclerotized tubercle, mostly pale, distally dark brown; anterior mesothoracic setiferous processes twice as long as others, curved. Posterior mesothoracic setiferous processes nearly as long as others on metathorax. Meso- and metanotum medially pale, each with a pair of black markings (Figs 9 , 10 C, D ). — Legs. Pale yellow, with many slender and short tapered setae (Fig. 9 B, C ). — Abdomen. Pale yellow with many dark brown markings. Dorsally covered with dense black setae, with dozens black dots; medially pale, each segment with a pair of black markings. Abdominal setiferous processes tubercular, distally dark brown. Lateral margin covered with pale setae. Ventrally generally pale yellow. Segment 9 dorsally with two pair of stout tapered setae; ventrally with 17 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; rastrum distally with five pair of tapered digging setae (Figs 9 A, B , 10 E ).

Type material.

Holotype ♂, China: Xizang, Nyingchi, Bome County, Yiong Town, Tangmai Township , 2100 m, 6. VIII. 2020, Yuchen Zheng ( CAU) . Other type specimens were examined in Zheng et al. (2023).

Additional material examined.

Larva. 3 rd instar larva preserved in 95 % ethyl alcohol, CHINA: Xizang, Nyingchi, Medog County [墨脱县], Ximo Bridge [西莫桥], 726 m, 10. VII. 2023, Zhiteng Chen ( ZCAU) .

Distribution.

China ( Xizang).

Biology.

The only known larva of this species was found hiding under a rock by the collector looking for stoneflies ( Plecoptera), who turned over a rock not far from the river while collecting stonefly nymphs.

Figures

Figure 9. Habitus of Layahima lhoba Zheng, Badano & Liu, 2023, third instar larva: A Dorsal view, B ventral view, C lateral view.

Figure 10. Layahima lhoba Zheng, Badano & Liu, 2023, third instar larva: A Head, dorsal view; B head, ventral view; C thorax, dorsal view, on black background; D thorax, dorsal view, on pale background; E abdominal segments 8–9, ventral view.

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