Layahima pixiu, 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

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.3897/asp.83.e145082
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B2390F50-B482-4695-8835-7C10CC62C1BD
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17380889
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/CF68D7E9-6577-5D6C-A48C-147E0C8EA51E
treatment provided by	Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny by Pensoft
scientific name	Layahima pixiu
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Layahima pixiu sp. nov.

Figures 2 E View Figure 2 , 12 View Figure 12

Diagnosis.

Adult: Body black with some yellowish-brown markings. Vertex mostly black, anterior and posterior margins with a few yellowish-brown markings. Frons yellowish brown, with a crossed black marking (Fig. 12 B, C View Figure 12 ). Pronotum mostly black, medially with four yellowish brown markings, laterally with a pair of curved yellowish-brown stripes, sometimes the middle markings connected with the lateral markings (Fig. 12 B View Figure 12 ). Abdominal terga 3–7 black, each medially with a yellowish-brown marking and posterior margin yellowish brown (Fig. 2 E View Figure 2 ). Male sternum 9 wide, posterior part narrowed and short (Fig. 12 E View Figure 12 ); gonocoxites 9 externally swollen and protruded (Fig. 12 H – L View Figure 12 ). Female pregenital plate shaped as a vertical prominence; gonocoxites 8 short and narrow, posteriorly curved (Fig. 12 F, G View Figure 12 ).

Description of adult.

Size. Head width: 2.68–3.12 mm; forewing length: 29.67–33.43 mm; hindwing length: 28.23–32.14 mm. — Head. Vertex mostly black, anterior and posterior margins with a few yellowish-brown markings. Scape and pedicel mostly dark brown; antenna mostly black, non-swollen part of flagellomeres each distally yellowish brown; swollen part of flagellum with a yellowish-brown marking. A dark brown marking present around the antennal scape, anteriorly slightly concaved. Frons yellowish brown, with a crossed black marking. Clypeus and labrum pale yellowish brown. Mandible pale yellowish brown with distal half dark reddish brown. Maxillary palpus mostly dark brown, only segment 3 brown. Labial palpus generally yellowish brown, distal palpomere fusiform and dark brown (Fig. 12 B, C View Figure 12 ). — Thorax. Pronotum mostly black, medially covered with short black setae, lateral margin with pale setae; medially with four yellowish brown markings, laterally with a pair of curved yellowish-brown stripes, sometimes the middle markings connected with the lateral markings. Mesoprescutum black with a pair of yellowish-brown spots; mesonotum black, medially with an inverted triangular yellowish brown marking, laterally with two pair of yellowish brown stripes and spots; mesoscutellum black, with a pair of yellowish brown spots, posterior margin yellowish brown. Metanotum black and yellowish brown; metascutellum mostly black, posterior margin yellowish brown. Pleurae mostly black (Fig. 12 C View Figure 12 ). — Legs. Short, as long as thorax at most, with many black and pale setae. All tibial spurs slightly curved; tarsomere 1 pale yellow, tarsomere 2 pale yellow with distally black, tarsomeres 3–4 black; tarsomere 5 pale yellow with distally black, nearly as long as entire length of tarsomeres 2–4; pretarsal claws curved, dark reddish brown. Foreleg: coxa pale yellowish brown with a black spot; femur dorsally and ventrally black, laterally yellowish brown; tibia black, basally and medially with two pale yellow markings; tibial spurs reaching base of tarsomere 3. Midleg: Coxa pale yellowish brown with a black spot; femur mostly pale yellowish brown, distally dark brown; tibia black, basally and medially with two pale yellow markings; tibial spurs reaching base of tarsomere 3. Hind leg: Coxa pale yellowish brown with a black spot; femur mostly pale yellowish brown, distally dark brown; tibia pale yellow, mediobasally and distally black; tibial spurs reaching tip of tarsomere 1; tarsomere 1 longer than that of fore- and midleg (Fig. 12 A View Figure 12 ). — Wings. Mostly hyaline, distally rounded. Banksian lines absent. Pterostigma pale. Forewing slightly longer than hindwing. Forewing costal space with a dark brown spot proximal to pterostigma; subcostal area with some indistinct brown spots; radial area with some indistinct brown spots; mediocubital area with a few indistinct brown spots; rhegma as two indistinct brown markings; cubital area with a basal indistinct dark brown marking; costal crossveins generally simple on basal 1 / 4 part, while distal 3 / 4 part each connect with a short oblique veins; RP originates proximally to MP fork; four to five presectoral crossveins present, with from two to four biareolate cells; RP with eight to nine branches. Hindwing rhegma as an indistinct brown marking reaching to posterior margin; presectoral area with only one crossvein; RP originates anteriorly to MP fork (Figs 2 E View Figure 2 , 12 A View Figure 12 ). — Abdomen. Terga mostly black, with some yellowish-brown marking, sterna mostly yellowish brown. Tergum 1 generally pale; tergum 2 mostly dark brown; terga 3–7 black, each medially with a yellowish-brown marking and posterior margin yellowish brown (Fig. 2 E View Figure 2 ). — Male genitalia. Sternum 9 wide, posterior part narrowed and short (Fig. 12 E View Figure 12 ). Gonocoxites 9 shaped as a pair of trapezoid plates, externally swollen and protruded; gonocoxites 11 widely arched; gonostyli 11 rounded protruded in lateral view (Fig. 12 H – L View Figure 12 ). Ectoproct rounded in posterior margin (Fig. 12 D View Figure 12 ). — Female genitalia. Pregenital plate shaped as a vertical prominence. Gonocoxites 8 short and narrow, digitiform, posteriorly curved; gonapophyses 8 indistinct and rounded. Gonocoxites 9 with many tapered stout setae, slightly curved. Ectoproct truncate on distal margin (Fig. 12 F, G View Figure 12 ).

Type material.

Holotype ♀, CHINA: Yunnan, Diqing, Shangri-La County [香格里拉县], Hutiaoxia Town [虎跳峡镇], Jiangbian Village [江边村], 1830 m, 25. V. 2023, Quanyu Ji ( IZCAS) . Paratypes: 1 ♀, same locality as above, 24. V. 2023, Quanyu Ji ( IZCAS) ; 1 ♂, CHINA: Sichuan, Garze, Muli County [木里县], Maidilong Township [麦地龙乡], Yalongjiang Town [雅砻江镇], Zhongpuzi Village [中埔子村], 18. V. 2024, Hao Xun ( CAU) ; 1 ♂, CHINA: Yunnan, Kunming, Luquan County [禄劝县], Shangshihuiyao [上石灰窑], 1860 m, 3. VII. 2022, Zhixin Yang ( IZCAS) .

Etymology.

The species name “ pixiu ” is derived from the Chinese mythological creature “ Pixiu ” (貔貅), which is a legendary animal known for its ability to attract wealth and protect against evil. According to the Chinese legend, the Pixiu only devours wealth (especially gold and silver treasures) and does not excrete, symbolizing wealth accumulation, not letting the loss of wealth. The Pixiu has a striking resemblance to both the mythical antlion, — associated with riches — and the real insect, known for not excreting at the larval stage. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.

Distribution.

China ( Sichuan, Yunnan) (Fig. 18 View Figure 18 ).

Remarks.

L. pixiu sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from other Layahima species by its mostly black body with reduced yellowish-brown markings, and the swollen and prominent external male gonocoxites 9. L. pixiu sp. nov. is distributed in some transition regions between the Mt. Hengduanshan Mountain and Ailaoshan Mountain ranges.