Insecta : Neuroptera) 111." Distoleontini and Acanthaclisinae
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Aust. J. Zool., Suppl. Ser., 1985, 106, 1-159 A Revision of the Australian Myrmeleontidae (Insecta : Neuroptera) 111." Distoleontini and Acanthaclisinae T. R. New Department of Zoology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic. 3083. Abstract The Australian Myrmeleontinae : Distoleontini (64 spp.) and Acanthaclisinac (16 spp.) are revised, and keys and figures provided to enable separation of all genera and species. Two species (Distoleon nefarius Navas, Cosina vaga Navas) have not been conlirmed from Australia. New species are described of the distoleontine genera Stenogymnocnemia (one), Xantholeon (four), Stenoleon (five), Escura (six), Bandidus (of which Heteroleon Esben-Petersen is a new synonym) (22) and of the acanthaclisine genera Heoclisis (two) and Cosina (two). A new genus of Acanthaclisinae (Arcuaplectron) is also described. Introduction This final part of a revision of the Australian Myrmeleontidae includes the Myrmeleontinae : Distoleontini and the Acanthaclisinae. Both groups are well established and widely distributed in Australia and, as with other groups of ant-lions, endemicity is extremely high. Abbreviations are as used in Parts I and 11, and figure numbering continues in sequence. A check-list to all three parts is also provided. Tribe DISTOLEONTINI This tribe is well represented in Australia, and a number of genera are endemic. Many of the species are fairly 'nondescript ant-lions' and many form small groups of closely allied and generally very similar forms. Some genera are distinctive, others are not, and a world revision of this tribe is needed in order to be able to adequately assess the relationships of the Australian fauna. For some, both nomenclatorial history and taxonomic affiliation are confused. The treatment of Australian genera allied to Distoleon Banks merits discussion, to provide background for the system adopted. The widely used name Formicaleo Hagen (1866) has the same type-species as Myrmeleon, and Banks (1910) raised Distoleon as a replacement name for Formicaleon. The type-species of Distoleon, verticalzs Banks, is now considered a synonym of D. somnolentus (Gerstaecker). Eidoleon Esben-Petersen (1918) is a synonym of Dntoleon, and the latter name is restricted here to the few species having very long tibia1 spurs and strongly hooked fused parameres. The remaining Australian species differ markedly from this character com- bination but have until now mostly (and uncritically) been retained in Dzstoleon (or Formicaleon, as some have not been formally transferred). Escura Navas (1914b) was raised primarily on the character of lacking a forewing anterior Banksian line-a lack typical of many Australian 'Distoleon s.1.'. The type-species, E. *Part 11: Aust. J. Zool., Suppl. Ser., 1985, 105. 03 10-9089/85/060001 $08.00 2 T. R. New divergens Navas, and that of Alloformicaleon Esben-Petersen (1915) (australis Esben- Petersen) are similar in general appearance and, as recognized by Esben-Petersen (1923), Alloformicaleon is a synonym of Escura. The two species are alike in having FW vein CuA2 long, and differ from many other 'Distoleon' in this important feature: Escura is here restricted to such species. Two further generic names applied to related Australian ant-lions can be confidently dismissed. (1) Macronemurus Costa (1835). I have examined the type-species (the european M. appendiculatus Costa) (BMNH specimens), and the great elaboration of the male ectoproct is not approached in any Australian distoleontine. (2) Neurofeon Navh (= Nelees Navas, 1912c, Neleoma Kimmins, 1938, nec Navas, 1914b, inter alii: see Holzel 1972). De- scribed from West Africa, many species have subsequently been referred to this genus. I have seen several, all of which have both the FW posterior Banksian line present and the male parameres strongly hooked. The remaining two available names applied to Australian species are Bandidus Navis (19146) and Heteroleon Esben-Petersen (1918). Bandidus was likened by Navas (1914b, 1935) to Escura, and raised largely on the condition of having two HW presectoral crossveins. Most individuals of the type-species, canifrons Navas, possess only one such vein, a condition typical of all related species considered here. Heteroleon, diagnosed as resembling Nelees (= Neuroleon), apparently differed on the form of HW vein 2A, but Navas (1922) considered the genera similar. The type-species of Bandidus and Heteroleon are similar in female genitalic structure. Males differ more distinctly, but both have unhooked parameres. In general, this pattern is shared with the other 34 species in this complex and, although there are some variations in male genitalic structure, none have the highly specialized form of true Distoleon. Several features considered elsewhere as of generic value in the Distoleontini are rather variable within the Australian fauna: (1) there is a wide range of variation in the FW Rs position of origin in relation to the length of CuA2 but in all the origin is beyond the cubital fork; (2) the FW posterior Banksian line may be present, absent or indicated-and this feature differs between species which are otherwise separable only on small differences in coloration or genitalia; (3) HW vein 2A is present in all, though sometimes very close to the hind margin and, therefore, indistinct; (4) spur length which (following Esben-Petersen (1918) and others) is probably not of full generic value as a character in this group, is very variable. Heteroleon is here synonymized with Bandidus, and the latter name is adopted for a wide range of Australian species. Stenofeon Tillyard is structurally very similar to Bandidus, and differs mainly by being very small, rather than in any major characters. It is here retained for a group of very small species which are amongst the smallest known Distoleontini. Key to Genera 1. Wings very broad, falcate (Fig. 1081) ..........................................................Eophanes Wings narrow, not falcate ................................................................................... 2 2(1). Tibia1 spurs absent ................................................................... Stenogymnocnemia Tibial spurs present ......................................................................................... 3 3(2). FW vein CuA2 long, reaching hind margin of wing opposite, or beyond, separation of MA from Rs; veins in FW cubital fork usually rather sinuous ...................................... Escura FW vein CuA2 shorter, reaching hind margin of wing well before separation of MA from Rs ....................................................................................................................4 4(3). FW vein CuA2 very short and usually recurved, reaching hind margin of wing before origin of Rs; not more than 6 FW presectoral crossveins ................................. Xantholeon FW vein CuA2 longer than above, or (rarely) if not, then 10 or more FW presectoral crossveins ....................................................................................................................5 5(4). FW Rs arising almost opposite cubital fork ............................................................. 6 FW Rs arising distinctly beyond cubital fork ............................................................ 7 --- 6(5). FW posterior Banksian line present (spurs to t2) .......................................... Brachyleon FW posterior Banksian line absent (spurs to t4) ..................................... Bandidus (part) Australian Myrmeleontidae. 111 3 7(5). Very small species, venation open (FW 22, or less, wings rather narrow) ........... Stenoleon Usually larger species, if FW 22 or less, wings broader than in Fig. 1144, and venation con- siderably denser .............................................................................................. 8 8(7). Tibial spurs very long, extending to (or beyond) apex of t4; o', parameres fused and strongly hooked (generally large, sturdy species) ....................................................Distoteon Tibial spurs usually to t2 or shorter: if longer, o', parameres not elaborated and hooked and species generally slender ................................................................ Bandidus (part) Genus Distoleon Banks Distoleon Banks, 1910, p. 42. Eidoleon Esben-Petersen, 1918, p. 15. Formicaleon auctt., partim. Type-species: Distoleon verticalis Banks. Sturdy. Vertex scarcely raised. Antennae slender. Wings long, slender, usually at least HW acutely pointed at apex; Rs arising slightly beyond cubital fork (FW), basal to medial fork (HW); FW anterior Banksian line sometimes indicated. Legs sturdy; spurs very long, extending to (or beyond) apex of t4 on at least some legs. Female: ectoproct and lateral gonapophyses with thickened setae; anterior gonapophyses absent; posterior gonapophyses slender, tapered. Male: ectoproct sometimes with long hairs; gonarcus a long, slender arch with transverse apex; parameres fused and strongly hooked; long gonosetae. As implied earlier, this definition of Distoleon is more restrictive than that used by many earlier workers: on male genitalic features, especially, such restriction is clearly warranted. One species formerly designated in Distoleon (nigrosignatus Tillyard) is consequently re- moved from this genus. Three, possibly four, Australian species are here included. One of these, D. nefarius Navas, cannot be placed with confidence as the type appears to be lost and the original description is inadequate for detailed comparative assessment to be made.