Description of the Male of Distoleon Sambalpurensis Ghosh, 1984 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) from India

Zootaxa 4661 (3): 587–593 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) https://www.mapress.com/j/zt/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2019 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4661.3.11 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3273D036-F148-4687-8601-9669A608CEA3

Description of the male of Distoleon sambalpurensis Ghosh, 1984 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) from India

SIMARJIT KAUR, MANPREET SINGH PANDHER* & KAILASH CHANDRA Zoological Survey of India, New Alipore, Kolkata- 700053 *E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

This is a contribution to the knowledge of the neuropteran fauna of India. The male genitalia of Distoleon sambalpurensis Ghosh, 1984 is described and illustrated for the first time from India. Further, the female is redescribed and re-illustrated based on the recently collected material. Taxonomic change is also proposed by considering Distoleon subtentus Yang 1986 as synonym of Distoleon sambalpurensis Ghosh, 1984 based on the morphological similarity.

Key words: Male, female, genitalia, West Bengal

Introduction

The genus Distoleon Banks, 1910, belongs to tribe Nemoleontini of the family Myrmeleontidae. It is represented by about 176 species at world level and 22 species from the Indian region (Oswald, 2019). The key diagnostic characteristics of this genus includes: only one presectoral crossvein in hind wing; forks of Cu divergent and 1A not parallel to the upper but to the lower branch only and that even for a short distance; spurs always longer than two basal tarsal segments taken together. In the present manuscript, one of the species of this genus, Distoleon sambalpurensis Ghosh, is studied. Ghosh (1984) described this species from Sambalpur, Odisha on the basis of a female specimen suggesting main diagnostic characters as: wings with milky white spaces, veins and crossveins in the milk white spaces yellow; pterostigma yellowish, with a brown mark at base; M, CuA and CuP of forewing with a distinct brown streak at apex. However, the male genitalia of this species was not described though Ghosh (2000) studied one example of male specimen from West Bengal. Further, Yang (1986) described D. subtentus from Yun- nan (China) based on male specimen which he mistook as new species, but in morphological features D. subtentus agrees with the D. sambalpurensis (Wang et.al, 2018). So D. subtentus Yang, 1986 is synonym of D. sambalpurensis Ghosh, 1984. The types of this species were physically verified by the authors. Our specimens agree with all the morphological features as described in the description of D. sambalpurensis. But the illustration of female genitalia as given by Ghosh (1984) was slightly different from the original specimen. So we are re-illustrating the female genitalia of this species based on our specimens to dismiss any further ambiguity. The male genitalia is also illustrated for the first time based on the specimens collected from West Bengal.

Materials and methods

The adult neuropterans were collected with the help of light traps using UV or mercury vapour bulb (160W). The specimens were killed with ethyl acetate vapours in the killing bottle. They were then pinned, stretched, dried and preserved. Pertinent collection data was also recorded for each specimen. The taxonomic identification was done following the key given by Ghosh (2000). For the preparation of male and female genitalia, last 3–4 abdominal segments were removed and put in 10% KOH overnight. These were then washed in water and kept in 80% ethyl alcohol with a drop of glycerol for observation. The illustrations were

Accepted by A. Letardi: 29 Jul. 2019; published: 29 Aug. 2019 587 prepared with a Rescholar zoom stereoscopic binocular microscope (RI-90-60A) fitted with an ocular grid in one eyepiece. The photography was done under a stereoscopic zoom microscope Leica M250A with a mounted digital camera Leica DFC 500 and processed with LAS v3.7 software. Terminology of wings follows Breitkreuz et al. (2017). The inking of the final drawings was done with Rotring black ink. The illustrations were scanned at 600 dpi greyscale and mounted onto plates in Adobe© Photoshop© 10. After illustrations, the genitalia for each specimen were transferred to a glass vial along with the respective specimen in 80% ethyl alcohol. The terminology for male and female gentialia given by Badano et al. (2017) has been followed. The types are deposited in NZC (National Zoological Collections), Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.

Taxonomy

Distoleon sambalpurensis Ghosh, 1984 (Figs. 1–8)

Distoleon sambalpurensis Ghosh, 1984: 50.

Description. Head. Face yellow; interantennal mark black extending above and below scapes; antennae black with yellow rings; vertex with two rows of black spots (Fig. 1). Thorax. Protonum pattern as in Fig. 1. Meso, metathorax and pleura black. Legs. Foreleg: Coxa dark dorsally, yellow ventrally with white setae; femur yellow ventrally with yellow setae; tibia brown dorsally with long black setae intermixed with small yellow setae; tibial spurs brown, curved and as along as 1–4 tarsomeres (Fig. 2). Middle and hind legs: femur with densely dispersed dark spots; tibia with lesser black spots on yellow base and erect black setae; tibial spurs longer than first two tarsomeres (Fig. 3). Wings. (Fig. 4). Male: Forewing, length 34.84 mm , breadth 4.3 mm; hindwing, length 32.48mm, breadth 4.1 mm (n=4). Female: Forewing, length 35.48 mm , breadth 4.2 mm; hindwing, length 32.78 mm, breadth 3.99 mm (n=7). Acute at tips; some translucent milky white spaces on disc and apex with yellow crossveins. Forewings: Sc, Cu and anals brown, with yellow bands; pterostigma yellow, with a black spot at base; crossveins and forked veinlets mostly with brown clouds; base and apex of hypostigmatic cell and crossveins beyond with smoky brown patches; brown mark at apical portion of M and CuA; large spot at junction of CuP and 1A extending upto middle of cubital area; inner radial field with 9 crossveins; RP with 11 branches. Hindwings: Short and narrower than forewings; smoky brown spot at base of M and CuA, extending obliquely up to 1st and 2nd branches of RP. In males, this smoky brown spot faded; inner radial field with one crossvein; RP with 11 branches. Male genitalia. (Figs. 5–7). Tergite IX and sternite IX separate. Tergum IX almost quadrate in lateral view. Sternum IX elongated ventrolaterally, with long hair like setae in lateral view (Fig.5). Gonocoxites 9 and 11 not fused. Gonocoxite 9 ventro-caudal to gonocoxite 11, Y-shaped, with two upward curved processes in lateral view (Figs. 6 & 7). Female genitalia. (Fig. 8). Tergum VIII trapezoidal in lateral view. Gonocoxites 8 paired, cone shaped, covered with long, hair like setae. Tergum IX quadrate with depression on posterolateral margin. Gonocoxites 9 paired, club-shaped, distally covered with long hair like setae and robust digging setae. Ectoproct oval, covered with long bristles and digging setae. Material examined. India: West Bengal, Kalimpong, Neora Valley National Park, Ashaley Camp, 27°00’47.0’’N, 88°45’57.0’’E, 686m, 18.vi.2017, (P. Chatterjee), (NZC), 4 males, 3 females; Neora Valley National Park, Bhote Camp Trail, 27°02’17.6’’N, 88°46’29.4’’E, 1501m; 24.vi.2017, (P. Chatterjee), (NZC), 1 female; Neora Valley Na- tional Park, Chaudaferi, 27°00’37.5’’N, 88°47’23.4’’E, 2348m, 15.xi.2017, (P. Chatterjee), (NZC), 1 female. Type series of Ghosh, 1984: Odisha, Sambalpur forest rest house, 21°10’55.3’’N, 83°54’40.2’’E, 29.ix.1972, (S. Khera), (NZC). 2 females (Figs. 9 & 10). Discussion. D. sambalpurensis as described by Ghosh in 1984 on the basis of markings of the wings i.e. some translucent milky white spaces on disc and apex with yellow crossveins; forewing with brown mark at apical portion of M and CuA; large spot at junction of CuP and 1A extending to middle of cubital area; inner radial field with 9 crossveins; RP with 11 branches; hindwing with smoky brown spot at base of M and CuA, extending obliquely up

588 · Zootaxa 4661 (3) © 2019 Magnolia Press KAUR ET AL. FigUREs 1–4. Male of Distoleon sambalpurensis Ghosh. 1. Head and thorax, dorsal view; 2. Right foreleg, dorsal view; 3. Right hindleg, dorsal view; 4. Right forewing and hindwing.

Description of Distoleon sambalpurensis Zootaxa 4661 (3) © 2019 Magnolia Press · 589 FigUREs 5–7. Male genitalia of Distoleon sambalpurensis Ghosh. 5. Terminalia, lateral view; 6. genitalia, lateral view; 7. Gonarcus, dorsal view.

590 · Zootaxa 4661 (3) © 2019 Magnolia Press KAUR ET AL. to 1st and 2nd branches of RP. In males, this smoky brown spot faded; inner radial field with one crossvein; RP with 11 branches. The same morphological characteristics have been cited in the description of D. subtentus by Yang (1986) and Wang et al. (2018). Therefore, morphologically these two species are alike, so D. subtentus is considered here as a synonym of D. sambalpurensis. With this, taxonomic change, the distribution range of the species also extends in South East Asia from Indian subcontinent. This species has also been reported from Ganesh Himal, Nepal (unpublished data).

FIGURE 8. Female genitalia of Distoleon sambalpurensis Ghosh, lateral view.

Acknowledgements

Financial aid in the form of research project “Biodiversity Assessment through long term monitoring plots in Indian Himalayan Landscape” Ref. No. NMHS/LG-2016/0011 provided by Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Govt. of India (MoEFCC) under National mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) is thankfully acknowl- edged. Sincere thanks are also due to various Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and District Forest Officers of these states for providing necessary facilities during the expeditions. Thanks are also due to different Research teams for efforts made by them in the field to collect these specimens. Lastly, we are indebted to the two anonymous reviewers as well as the Dr. Agostino Letardi, Editor for Neuroptera in Zootaxa for their valuable insights.

References

Badano, D., Aspock, H. & Aspock, U. (2017) Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Gymnocnemia Schneider, 1845, and Megistopus Rambur, 1842, with remarks on the systematization of tribe Nemoleontini (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Deutsche Ento- mologische Zeitschrift, 69 (1), 43–60. https://doi.org/10.3897/dez.64.11704

Description of Distoleon sambalpurensis Zootaxa 4661 (3) © 2019 Magnolia Press · 591 Breitkreuz, L.C.V., Winterton, S.L. & Engel, M.S. (2017) Wing Tracheation in Chrysopidae and Other neuropterida (Insecta): A Resolution of the Confusion about Vein Fusion. American Museum Novitates, 3890, 1–44. https://doi.org/10.1206/3890.1 Ghosh, S.K. (1984) Contribution to the taxonomical studies of Neuroptera (Suborder Planipennia) from Eastern India. I. Family Myrmeleontidae. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Occasional Paper No. 52, 1–63. Ghosh, S.K. (2000) Neuropteran fauna of North-East India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Occasional Paper No. 184, 1–179. Oswald, J.D. (2019) Neuropterida Species of the World. Version 6.0. Available from: http://lacewing.tamu.edu/SpeciesCatalog/ Main (accessed 26 March 2019) Wang, X.-l., Zhan, Q.-B. & Wang, A.-Q. (2018) 中国动物志 [=Fauna Sinica]. 昆虫纲第六十八卷 [=Insecta Vol. 68]. 脉翅目 [=Neuroptera], 蚁蛉总科 [=Myrmeleontoidea]. Science Press, Beijing, 285 pp. Yang, C.-K. (1986) Thirty new species and four new genera of Neuroptera from Yunnan, and thefamily Nemopteridae new to China. Acta Agriculturae Universitatis Pekinensis 12, 153–166 + 423–434.

FIGURE 9. Distribution of Distoleon sambalpurensis Ghosh in India.