Layahima qilin, 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.17380891
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8A31C7F4-8F12-5D53-B1D8-C56575E19E88
treatment provided by	Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny by Pensoft
scientific name	Layahima qilin
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Layahima qilin sp. nov.

Figures 2 C View Figure 2 , 5 F – J View Figure 5 , 13 View Figure 13

Diagnosis.

Adult: Body pale yellowish brown with some black and dark brown markings, parts with numerous black dots at base of setae. Vertex anteriorly with four median small black spots, posteriorly with a pair of transversal black markings. Frons and clypeus mostly pale yellowish brown with a transversal stripe (Fig. 13 B, C View Figure 13 ). Pronotum anteromedially with a dark brown marking, anteromedially with a pair of dark brown spots, medially with a dark brown spot, and laterally with four pairs of dark brown spots (Figs 5 F – H View Figure 5 , 13 C View Figure 13 ). Male sternum 9 wide, posterior part narrowed and elongate (Fig. 13 D, E View Figure 13 ); gonocoxites 9 are as long as wide. Female pregenital plate shaped as an anterior sclerotized papilla prominence and a posterior ridge-like prominence.

Description of adult.

Size. Head width 3.09–3.31 mm; forewing length 27.45–32.35 mm; hindwing length 25.32–33.78 mm. — Head. Vertex anteriorly with four median small black spots, posteriorly with a pair of transversal black markings. Scape largely pale yellow, internal margin black; pedicel dark brown; flagellum mostly pale brown, each flagellomere brown basally. A dark brown marking present around scapes, anteriorly concaved. Frons and clypeus mostly pale yellowish brown with a transversal stripe. Labrum pale yellow. Maxillary palpus pale yellow. Labial palpus generally pale, distal flagellomere dark brown, fusiform. Mandible pale yellow with distal half dark reddish brown (Figs 5 F – H View Figure 5 , 13 B, C View Figure 13 ). — Thorax. Pronotum anteromedially with a dark brown marking, anteromedially with a pair of dark brown spots, medially with a dark brown spot, and laterally with four pairs of dark brown spots. Mesoprescutum mostly black, anteriorly with a pair of pale yellowish-brown spots; mesonotum pale yellowish brown, with three pair of black stripes and a pair of black spots, pale yellowish-brown part with some black dots; mesoscutellum anteriorly black, mostly pale yellowish brown, variation present in different individuals. Metanotum pale yellowish brown and black; metascutellum mostly pale yellowish brown. Pleurae pale yellowish-brown and black (Figs 5 F – H View Figure 5 , 13 C View Figure 13 ). — Legs. Short, as long as thorax at most, with many black and pale setae. All tibial spurs slightly curved; tarsomeres each generally pale yellow with distal part dark brown; tarsomere 5 pale yellow, with distal part dark brown, 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 dorsally brown to dark brown, ventrally pale yellowish brown; tibia pale yellow with a dark anterior marking, distal part dark brown; tibial spurs reaching base of tarsomere 3. Midleg: Coxa pale yellowish brown, black basally; femur mostly yellowish brown, distally dark brown; tibia pale yellow, with some black dots, distal part dark brown; tibial spurs reaching basal of tarsomere 3. Hind leg: Coxa mostly pale yellowish brown, black basally; femur yellowish brown, with distal part dark brown; tibia pale yellow, distally dark brown; tibial spurs reaching tip of tarsomere 1; tarsomere 1 longer than that of fore- and midleg (Fig. 13 A View Figure 13 ). — Wings. Mostly hyaline, distally rounded. Banksian lines absent. Pterostigma pale. Forewing slightly longer than hindwing. Forewing costal space with an indistinct brown spot proximal to pterostigma; subcostal area hyaline; radial area with some indistinct brown spots; mediocubital area mostly hyaline; rhegma as two indistinct brown markings; cubital area with a basal indistinct dark brown marking; costal crossveins generally simple on basal 1 / 6 part, while distal 5 / 6 part each connect with a short oblique veins; RP originates proximally to MP fork; four to five presectoral crossveins present, with from two to three biareolate cells; RP with eight to nine branches. Hindwing rhegma indistinct; presectoral area with 1 crossvein; RP originates anteriorly to MP fork (Fig. 2 D View Figure 2 , 13 A View Figure 13 ). — Abdomen. Pale yellowish brown with some dark brown markings. Tergum 1 generally pale yellowish brown; tergum 2 mostly dark brown; terga 3–8 each dark brown on posteromedial part (Fig. 2 D View Figure 2 ). — Male genitalia. Sternum 9 wide, posterior part narrowed and elongate (Fig. 13 E View Figure 13 ); gonocoxites 9 shaped as a pair of widely short trapezoid plates, as long as wide; gonocoxites 11 rounded arched; gonostyli 11 slightly prominent (Fig. 13 H – L View Figure 13 ). Ectoproct slightly protruded (Fig. 13 D View Figure 13 ). — Female genitalia. Pregenital plate shaped as an anterior sclerotized papilla prominence and a posterior ridge-like prominence; gonocoxites 8 slightly curved, short digitiform, with an anterior rounded depressed groove; gonapophyses 8 widely triangular. Gonocoxites 9 with many tapered stout setae, slightly curved. Ectoproct rounded on distal margin (Fig. 13 F, G View Figure 13 ).

Type material.

Holotype ♂, CHINA: Yunnan, Diqing, Weixi County [维西县], Zhonglu Township [中路乡], Zhazidi [扎子底], 1885 m, 6. VII. 2022, Zhihao Qi ( IZCAS) . — Paratypes: 1 ♂ 1 ♀ CHINA: Sichuan, Garze, Batang County [巴塘县], Suwalong Township [苏哇龙乡], 2410 m, 2. VII. 2020, Yuezheng Tu & Di Li ( IZCAS) ; 2 ♀, CHINA: Xizang, Qamdo, Markam County [芒康县], Yanjing Town [盐井乡], 2600 m, 7. VI. 1976, Yinheng Han ( CAU) ; 1 ♀, CHINA: Xizang, Qamdo , 19. IX. 1982, Wang ( CAU) ; 1 ♀, CHINA: Yunnan, Diqing, Deqen County [德钦县], Mt. Baimaxueshan [白马雪山], 23. VI. 2020, Weidong Huang ( CAU) ; 1 ♂ 1 ♀, CHINA: Yunnan, Diqing, Deqen County, Mt. Meilixueshan [梅里雪山], 22. VII. 1982, Shuyong Wang ( CAU) ; 1 ♀, CHINA: Yunnan, Diqing, Deqen County, Xiaruo Township [霞落乡], 16. V. 1976, Xiangqun Yuan ( CAU) ; 3 ♂ 1 ♀, CHINA: Yunnan, Diqing, Deqen County, Yanmen Township [雁门乡], Cizhong Village [茨中村], 16–18. VI. 2004, Hao Huang ( CAU) ; 1 ♂ CHINA: Yunnan, Diqing, Weixi County, Pantiange Township [攀天阁乡], 9. VII. 2010 ( IZCAS) ; CHINA: Yunnan, Diqing, Weixi County, Yongchun Township [永春乡], Baipa [白帕], 2300 m, 1. VII. 2023, Yuchen Zheng ( CAU) ; 1 ♀, CHINA: Yunnan, Lijiang, Yulong County [玉龙县], Tacheng Township [塔城乡], 10. VII. 2004, Hao Huang ( CAU) ; CHINA: Yunnan, “ Mekong ” (Lancangjiang) valley, 35 km S Deqen , 3000 m, 14. VI. 2000, Enrico Gallo ( MSNG) .

Etymology.

This new species is named after the “ Qilin ” (麒麟), a mythical creature in Chinese mythology known for its kindness and auspiciousness. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.

Distribution.

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

Bio-ecology.

L. qilin sp. nov. is endemic to the middle elevations ( 1800–3000 m) of Shaluli and Mangkang mountain systems between Lanchangjiang and Jinshajiang River.