DOCSLIB.ORG

Abstract Introduction

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Abstract Introduction 174 Entomologist's Rec. J. Var. 125 (2013) MYRMELEON FORM/CAR/US (L., 1767) (NEUR.: MYRMELEONTIDAE): AN ANT-LION NEW TO BRITAIN IDAVE COOKE, 2TIM NORRISS, 3LYNN FOMISON & 4COLIN W. PLANT 12 Clarence Cottages, Queens Road, Freshwater Isle o/Wight P040 9HD (E-mail: [email protected]) 240 Taskers Drive, Anna Valley, Andover. Hampshire SPll 7SA (E-mail: [email protected]) 3 Mount Pleasant, Parkstone Road, Ropley, Hampshire S024 OEW (E-mail: [email protected]) 414 West Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire eM23 3QP (E-mail: cpauk1 @ntlworldcom) Abstract The ant-lion Myrmeleon formicarius (Linnaeus, 1767) is recorded new to Britain from the Isle of Wight in August 2013. The possible origin of the insect is discussed. Keywords: N europtera, Myrmeleontidae, Myrmeleon formicarius. Introduction In a suburban area of Freshwater, at the western end of the Isle of Wight about 1.25 km inland from the south coast, DC runs a 125 watt MV Robinson-pattern moth trap regularly in his garden. During the night of Friday 23 August 2013, there had been a light north-west breeze throughout and amongst the 108 species recorded in the trap the next morning were several potential immigrants, such as 13 Plutella xylostella (L.), 10 Udeaferrugalis (Hb.), a single Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) (Dark Sword-grass) and 42 Autographa gamma (L.) (Silver Y). Evergestis limbata (L.) and Udeafulvalis (Hb.) were also recorded, but these are resident in the area. In the morning, there were many moths outside the trap including several Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria (Poda) which is now abundant in many places along the south coast of the island. Upon the arrival of TN and LF to stay for the weekend, we started to empty the trap of its contents. Near the bottom of the trap TN noticed what he thought was an ant­ lion settled on one of the trays and so it was potted. A hasty picture taken on a mobile phone was sent straight away to Paul Brock who in tum e-mailed it to CWP; he responded with the information that this was a species of Myrmeleon (L.) and that on the basis of the wing venation and patterning could only be either M formicarius (L.) or M bore (Tjeder). Subsequent examination of additional photographs showing the colour pattern on the pronotum, together with a knowledge of the wing length, generated the response that (in absence of the actual specimen) in his opinion this was certainly M formicarius. In view of the extreme surprise that this species could migrate to Britain, a selection of images were e-mailed to colleagues in Europe who are familiar with this species Entomologist s Rec. J. Var. 125 (2013) 175 Plate 1. Myrmeleonformicarius (L.), Freshwater, Isle of Wight, 23.viii.20 13, leg. Dave Cooke, in coil. James Halsey. 1. Showing the venation on both fore and hind wings and the slightly falcate wing tips; 2. Entirely dark dorsal surface of pronoturn helps to distinguish this species from M bore; 3. Oblique lateral view of head and thorax showing colouration oflegs and other features; 4. Tn a natural repose, with a fern frond for scale (wing length = 34 mm). All photographs Dave Cooke. on a regular basis. The responses received from Dr Ferenc Szentkinily (Hungary), Dr Agostino Letardi (Italy), Dr Patrice Leraut (France), Dr Dusan Devetek (Slovenia) and Dr Levente Abraham (Hungary) supported the identification as M formicarills, although emphasised the need to distinguish carefully from M bore. Recognition According to Aspock et al (1980) the dorsal pattern of the pronotum is characteristic. These authors also discriminate between the two within their key on the basis of fore wing length, with M formicarius having a wing of 35 - 40 111111 and M bore smaller at 25-33111111. The cynical will be unsurprised that the Isle of Wight specil11enl11easures 34 1111ll. However, Feri Szentkiraly al so cOllll11ented that "The wing length o/antlions 11101 ' be variable, as Ijollnd in mv larger adult material collected by light trapping, consequently it is not a good key/or identification" . 176 Entomologists Rec. J. Var. 125 (2013) We are extremely grateful to Dr Levente Abraham for supplying photographs of set specimens of males of both M formicarius and M bore together with the following notes: M formicarius is larger species than M bore, the length of forewing usually is over 30 mm while M bore has less then 30 mm. The shape of forewing in the [Isle of Wight] picture is more similar to M bore than that of M formicarius. Forewing is narrower than that of M formicarius . ... The male of M bore has a pilula axillaris (Eltringham organ) in the base of hindwing; M formicarius has not got such an organ. The ectoproct of M bore has a bent, tooth-like processus ventrally while that of M formicarius is only an oval plate. In both sexes the dorsal segments of the abdomen of M bore have a narrow yellowish edge caudally while those of M formicarius do not. M formicarius usually flies from end of May to early July, M bore flies from the middle part of summer, mainly in the second part of July and in August. Overall, we are in no doubt that this captured specimen refers to M formicarius. An erroneous earlier record An earlier published report of Myrmeleon formicarius in Britain has been shown to be a misidentification of Euroleon nostras (Geoff. in Fourc.), which is resident on the East Suffolk coast (Plant, 1998a; 1998b, 1999, from which the following three paragraphs are quoted). "The earliest reference to British ant-lions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) in the literature appears to be that of Barbut (1781), who recognised "Myrmeleon formicarum" as a British species but gave no details. Stephens (1829), also included "Myrmeleon formicarum" as British, though he had never himself seen a British specimen and had presumably copied from Barbut's earlier work. Later (Stephens, 1835) he reconsidered the matter and concluded that the species was erroneously introduced as British by Barbut. Hagen (1858), stated that it was" ... almost certain that at least two species of Myrmeleon will be found in Britain, probably more", but provided no evidence to support that statement. McLachlan (1868) considered that " ... we have no native member of the handsome Myrmeleonidae in Britain". The first confirmed British record of an ant-lion came on 5 September 1931 at Gorleston, when a single male was taken" ... clinging to a paling about thirty inches from the ground, and in an apparently torpid condition" by C. G. Doughty (Doughty, 1931; Killington, 1932). The insect was identified as Myrmeleon formicarius by Claude Morley who, in an editorial footnote to Doughty (op. cit.) stated that the area had been practically unworked for over a hundred years and did not rule out the possibility of the species being native. Recent investigations by Howard Mendel at Ipswich Museum turned up Doughty's specimen in that institution (Morley Collection, number R.1953-22) and this proved to be Euroleon nostras rather than Myrmeleon formicarius. Entomologists Rec. J. Var. 125 (2013) 177 It is hard to comprehend the original misidentification of a species with darkly spotted wings with one whose wings are hyaline; the names formicarum and formicarius do not appear in the synonymy of E. nostras listed in Aspock et aI., (1980) though Mendel (1996), in considering this particular problem disagrees (but without references). Certainly, Barbut's (op. cit.) description of Myrmeleon formicarum as having wings " ... diaphanous, adorned with a network of black fibres, charged with several blackish-brown spots, rather large, especially towards their outer edge" can surely only be a description of Euroleon nostras. The dark wing markings are clearly shown in his Plates 12 and 22. The matter is further discussed by Mendel (op. cit.) who concludes that early references are best treated as unreliable and in any case should probably be referred to Euroleon nostras." Potential origins This current capture of Myrmeleon formicarius represents an addition to the British fauna. In continental Europe, M formicarius is widely distributed from Spain in the west to Turkey (and beyond) in the east and from the southern tip of Italy to the southern half of the Scandinavian Peninsula in the north (Aspock et ai, 1980 and various subsequent individual papers). It is local, but not uncommon across this entire area. However, its presence in Britain is something of a surprise. It was presumably prevented from colonisation by the last "ice age" and it is not considered to be a migratory species. It is widely established in the "cold" areas of the southern half of Norway and Sweden and also in Finland extending, in terms of latitude, to a level just north of the Shetland Islands; range expansion as a consequence of climate warming seems, therefore, an unlikely explanation. We are mindful of Morley's comments (Morley, 1932) in relation to the discovery of the (misidentified) ant-lion in Suffolk. This find was of such interest that a lengthy report appeared in a local newspaper in which Morley described the possibility of the insect having been "merely blown across the intervening seventy miles of sea" from the Continent as " ... an extremely improbable contingency". With the benefit of hindsight, and the knowledge that his specimen was in fact E. nostras, we can see that he was quite correct. That said, the likelihood of M formicarius being an overlooked resident on the Isle of Wight is very small; this specimen was surely an immigrant or a wanderer, depending upon one's personal interpretation. Unless it is breeding somewhere else on the south coast? Acknowledgements We are grateful to Paul Brock for his invaluable help.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • GIS-Based Modelling Reveals the Fate of Antlion Habitats in the Deliblato Sands Danijel Ivajnšič1,2 & Dušan Devetak1
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN GIS-based modelling reveals the fate of antlion habitats in the Deliblato Sands Danijel Ivajnšič1,2 & Dušan Devetak1 The Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve (DSSNR; Vojvodina, Serbia) is facing a fast successional process. Open sand steppe habitats, considered as regional biodiversity hotspots, have drastically decreased over the last 25 years. This study combines multi-temporal and –spectral remotely sensed data, in-situ sampling techniques and geospatial modelling procedures to estimate and predict the potential development of open habitats and their biota from the perspective of antlions (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae). It was confrmed that vegetation density increased in all parts of the study area between 1992 and 2017. Climate change, manifested in the mean annual precipitation amount, signifcantly contributes to the speed of succession that could be completed within a 50-year period. Open grassland habitats could reach an alarming fragmentation rate by 2075 (covering 50 times less area than today), according to selected global climate models and emission scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). However, M. trigrammus could probably survive in the DSSNR until the frst half of the century, but its subsequent fate is very uncertain. The information provided in this study can serve for efective management of sand steppes, and antlions should be considered important indicators for conservation monitoring and planning. Palaearctic grasslands are among the most threatened biomes on Earth, with one of them – the sand steppe - being the most endangered1,2. In Europe, sand steppes and dry grasslands have declined drastically in quality and extent, owing to agricultural intensifcation, aforestation and abandonment3–6.
    [Show full text]
  • Bergmann's Rule in Larval Ant Lions
    Ecological Entomology (2003) 28, 645–650 Bergmann’s rule in larval ant lions: testing the starvation resistance hypothesis AMY E. ARNETT andNICHOLAS J. GOTELLI Department of Biology, University of Vermont, U.S.A. Abstract. 1. Body size of the ant lion Myrmeleon immaculatus follows Bergmann’s rule – an increase in body size towards higher latitudes. The hypothesis that ant lion body size is larger in the north as an adaptation for starvation resistance was tested. 2. In a laboratory experiment testing starvation resistance, survivorship curves differed among 10 ant lion populations for both a starved and a fed treatment. 3. The average number of months survived by each population was correlated positively with latitude for both treatments. Across both treatments and all populations, large individuals survived longer than small individuals; however individuals from high latitudes had higher survivorship, even after factoring out variation due to initial body size. 4. These results suggest that starvation resistance may be an adaptation for coping with reduced prey availability in high latitudes. Starvation resistance may contribute to latitudinal gradients in body size of ant lions and other ectotherms. Key words. Ant lion, Bergmann’s rule, body size, latitudinal gradients, Myrmeleon immaculatus, starvation resistance. Introduction body size (Cushman et al., 1993). If food availability decreases at high latitudes, starvation resistance may be Bergmann’s rule – an increase in body size with latitude – is genetically based and promote large body size at high lati- a common geographic pattern that has been described for tudes. Size-dependent resistance to starvation is supported many taxa including birds (James, 1970; Graves, 1991), by many studies of both endotherms and ectotherms mammals (Boyce, 1978; Sand et al., 1995; Sharples et al., (Brodie, 1975; Kondoh, 1977; Boyce, 1978; Lindstedt & 1996), fish (L’Abe´e-Lund et al., 1989; Taylor & Gotelli, Boyce, 1985; Murphy, 1985; Cushman et al., 1993).
    [Show full text]
  • Preference of Antlion and Wormlion Larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae; Diptera: Vermileonidae) for Substrates According to Substrate Particle Sizes
    Eur. J. Entomol. 112(3): 000–000, 2015 doi: 10.14411/eje.2015.052 ISSN 1210-5759 (print), 1802-8829 (online) Preference of antlion and wormlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae; Diptera: Vermileonidae) for substrates according to substrate particle sizes Dušan DEVETAK 1 and AMY E. ARNETT 2 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Koroška cesta 160, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia; e-mail: [email protected] 2 Center for Biodiversity, Unity College, 90 Quaker Hill Road, Unity, ME 04915, U.S.A.; e-mail: [email protected] Key words. Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae, Diptera, Vermileonidae, antlions, wormlions, substrate particle size, substrate selection, pit-builder, non-pit-builder, habitat selection Abstract. Sand-dwelling wormlion and antlion larvae are predators with a highly specialized hunting strategy, which either construct efficient pitfall traps or bury themselves in the sand ambushing prey on the surface. We studied the role substrate particle size plays in these specialized predators. Working with thirteen species of antlions and one species of wormlion, we quantified the substrate particle size in which the species were naturally found. Based on these particle sizes, four substrate types were established: fine substrates, fine to medium substrates, medium substrates, and coarse substrates. Larvae preferring the fine substrates were the wormlion Lampromyia and the antlion Myrmeleon hyalinus originating from desert habitats. Larvae preferring fine to medium and medium substrates belonged to antlion genera Cueta, Euroleon, Myrmeleon, Nophis and Synclisis and antlion larvae preferring coarse substrates were in the genera Distoleon and Neuroleon. In addition to analyzing naturally-occurring substrate, we hypothesized that these insect larvae will prefer the substrate type that they are found in.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparative Study of Sensilla and Other Tegumentary Structures of Myrmeleontidae Larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera)
    Received: 30 April 2020 Revised: 17 June 2020 Accepted: 11 July 2020 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21240 RESEARCH ARTICLE Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera) Fernando Acevedo Ramos1,2 | Víctor J. Monserrat1 | Atilano Contreras-Ramos2 | Sergio Pérez-González1 1Departamento de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Unidad Docente de Zoología y Abstract Antropología Física, Facultad de Ciencias Antlion larvae have a complex tegumentary sensorial equipment. The sensilla and Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain other kinds of larval tegumentary structures have been studied in 29 species of 2Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de 18 genera within family Myrmeleontidae, all of them with certain degree of Biología- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de psammophilous lifestyle. The adaptations for such lifestyle are probably related to México, Mexico City, Mexico the evolutionary success of this lineage within Neuroptera. We identified eight types Correspondence of sensory structures, six types of sensilla (excluding typical long bristles) and two Fernando Acevedo Ramos, Departamento de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Unidad other specialized tegumentary structures. Both sensilla and other types of structures Docente de Zoología y Antropología Física, that have been observed using scanning electron microscopy show similar patterns in Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. terms of occurrence and density in all the studied
    [Show full text]
  • Of the World
    OCCASIONAL PAPERS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES No. 147, 94 pages. December 2, 1991 GENUS-GROUP NAMES OF THE NEUROPTERA, MEGALOPTERA AND RAPHIDIOPTERA OF THE WORLD By John D. Oswald Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-0999 and Norman D. Penny Department of Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California 94118-4599 Abstract: Alphabetical listings of the genus-group names of extant Megaluptcra, Raphidioptera, and = Neuroptera (s. str. Planipennia) are presented. Taxonomic and nomenclatural data for each name are given. Summaries of new genus-group synonyms, unreplaced junior homonyms, names without valid type species fixations, and names based on misidentified type species are given. Complete bibliographic references are given for all names and nomenclatural acts. Contents Introduction Inlroduciion (1) The last worldwide species-level catalog of Scope (2) the order str. = Nomenclature (2) Neuroptera (s. Planipennia), and Format Arrangement of Entries (2) Hermann Hagen's 1866 Hemerobidarum Syn- General Arrangement (2) opsis Synonymica, has long been obsolete, as Subgenera (2) are the most recent revisions Synonymy (2) comprehensive Character Formals (3) of the orders Megaloptera (i.e.. Van dcr Publication Dates (3) Weele 1910) and Raphidioptera (i.e., Navas Type Species (3) [1919e] 1918). In the 120+ years since 1866, Unavailable Names (3) the number of available Homonymy (4) nomenclaturally Family-Group Taxa (4) genus-group names in the order Neuroptera Selected Taxonomic References
    [Show full text]
  • Review of Japanese Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera)
    Title Review of Japanese Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera) Author(s) SEKIMOTO, Shigeyuki Insecta matsumurana. New series : journal of the Faculty of Agriculture Hokkaido University, series entomology, 70, 1- Citation 87 Issue Date 2014-10 Doc URL http://hdl.handle.net/2115/57386 Type bulletin (article) File Information 01：01-87p.pdf Instructions for use Hokkaido University Collection of Scholarly and Academic Papers : HUSCAP INSECTA MATSUMURANA NEW SERIES 70: 1–87 OCTOBER 2014 REVIEW OF JAPANESE MYRMELEONTIDAE (NEUROPTERA) By SHIGEYUKI SEKIMOTO Abstract SEKIMOTO, S., 2014. Review of Japanese Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera). Ins. matsum. n. s. ±¿JV -DSDQHVHVSHFLHVRIWKHIDPLO\0\UPHOHRQWLGDHDUHUHYLVHG7KHIROORZLQJ VSHFLHVDUHUHFRJQL]HGMyrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, M. bore (Tjeder), M. solers Walker, M. taiwanensis0LOOHU 6WDQJH QHZUHFRUGIURP-DSDQ Baliga micans (McLachlan), Dendroleon pupillaris (Gerstaecker), Gatzara jezoensis (Okamoto), Epacanthaclisis moiwana (Okamoto), Distoleon nigricans (Okamoto), Di. contubernalis (McLachlan), Di. bistrigatus (Rambur), Di. boninensis Adams, Neuroleon parvulus (Okamoto) n. comb., Paraglenurus japonicus (McLachlan), Pa. okinawensis (Okamoto), Pseudoformicaleo nubecula (Gerstaecker) and Synclisis japonica (McLachlan). The male of Di. boninensisLVUHFRUGHGIRUWKH¿UVWWLPH$OO-DSDQHVHVSHFLHVRI0\UPHOHRQWLGDH are redescribed and illustrated, except for M. taiwanensis for which detailed male and IHPDOHWHUPLQDOVWUXFWXUHVZHUHUHFHQWO\LOOXVWUDWHG$NH\WRWKHWULEHVJHQHUDDQG species of Japanese antlions is provided. In appendix,
    [Show full text]
  • Neuroptera in Two Protected Sand Dune Areas in the Southern Rim of the Pannonian Plain
    15 December 2019 Neuroptera in two sand dune areas in the Pannonian Plain Neuroptera in two protected sand dune areas in the southern rim of the Pannonian Plain Dušan Devetak1,3, Predrag Jakšić2, Tina Klenovšek1, Vesna Klokočovnik1, Jan Podlesnik1, Franc Janžekovič1 & Danijel Ivajnšič1 1 Department of Biology & Institute for Biology, Ecology and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Koroška cesta 160, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia 2 Čingrijina 14/25, Zvezdara, 11000 Beograd, Serbia 3 Corresponding author: [email protected] Received 9th September 2018; revised and accepted 1st February 2019 Abstract. The Pannonian Plain is large sedimentary lowlands in Central/south-eastern Europe. Two protected sand dune areas in the southern rim of the Pannonian Plain were surveyed for the presence of Neuroptera. Đurđevac sands in Croatia is a special geographical and botanical reserve, occupying only about 0.2 km², whereas Special Nature Reserve Deliblato sands in the Vojvodina province, Serbia, covers about 300 km². Among other lacewings, a few rare antlion species were observed in these reserves. Thegreen lacewing Chrysopa commata was recorded for the first time in Croatia. The vegetation dynamics of the study areas was determined with a mul- tispectral LANDSAT satellite imagery. As a result of the ecological succession (in both reserves) and afforestation (in Deliblato sands) in the past, the rate of the habitat loss and degradation processes of the sand dune ecosystems have increased to a level less suitable for the antlions as- semblages. Further key words. Antlions, nature conservation, habitat loss, Croatia, Serbia Introduction The Pannonian Plain is large sedimentary lowlands in Central to south-eastern Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • Commagene Journal of Biology Tusun & Bozdoğan (2020) Comm
    Commagene Journal of Biology Tusun & Bozdoğan (2020) Comm. J. Biol. 4(2): 100-103. e-ISSN 2602-456X DOI: 10.31594/commagene.783479 Research Article / Araştırma Makalesi Effects of Soil Substrate on the Ecological Features of the Sand Pit- building Antlions Myrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, 1767 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) Larvae in the Amanos Mountains of Turkey Sadreddin TUSUN*,1, Hakan BOZDOĞAN2 1Faculty of Ziya Gökalp Education, Department of Biology, University of Dicle, 21280, Diyarbakır, Turkey 2Department of Herbal and Animal Production, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, University of Kırşehir Ahi Evran, 40100, Kırşehir, Turkey ORCID ID: Sadreddin TUSUN: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0696-4244; Hakan BOZDOĞAN: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6836-4383 Received: 21.08.2020 Accepted: 30.09.2020 Published online: 14.10.2020 Issue published: 31.12.2020 Abstract: The hunting behavior of antlion larvae is unique in the insect world and the soil characteristics may strongly affect their microhabitat selection. Therefore, the substrate type of sand pit construction is expected to have an important role in their traps. Different types of soil substrates can be inhabited by Myrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, 1767 larvae. This study was conducted during 2018-2019 June-August in the Amanos Mountains of Turkey to examine the relationship between the microhabitat preference of larvae of M. formicarius. In this study, five substrate types were determined as particularly according to their habitat preference. In this study, the preference of fine-grained soils is found more adaptive because the pits are constructed in these substrates are more functional for longer periods and they are much more successful in trapping their prey than the coarse-grained soil pits.
    [Show full text]
  • Spatial Distribution of the Pit Builders Antlion's Larvae
    International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 4, Issue 9, September 2014 1 ISSN 2250-3153 Spatial distribution of the pit builders antlion’s larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) in the septentrional regions of Cameroon (Central Africa) Jean Maoge*, Leonard Simon Tinkeu Ngamo**, Bruno Michel*** André Prost **** ** University of Ngaoundéré, Faculty of Science. Department of Biological Sciences P O Box 454 Ngaoundéré Cameroon. ***Entomologist CIRAD UMR CBGP - Campus International de Baillarguet CS 30016 34988 Montferrier sur Lez – France **** Secretary International Association of Neuropterology Rue de l'église F 39320 Loisia- France Abstract- Antlions (Insecta: Neuroptera) are xerophilous insects 1985) [10]. The funnels are a trapping system in fine soil causing adapt to arid conditions that perform some resilent behaviours to prey to the background in the manner of quicksand. In this case, overcome some noxious effects of the global warming. This the agitations of the trapped prey contribute more to swallow it paper focuses on the determination of the diversity of the antlion than to facilitate his escape. in the Soudano-guinean and Soudano-sahelian area of Cameroon The distribution of living organisms is strongly influenced by analyzes the distribution of antlion larvae in these regions. After biotic and abiotic factors. Climate is the main factor responsible 3 years of survey, 3 antlions species dominate in the North of for the distribution of living organisms in the biosphere. Northern Cameroon especially in the dry season. Pits distribution under Cameroon is characterized by a dry climate with a long dry four tropical trees species is irregular, there is higher density of season and low rainfall (Suchel, 1987) [11].
    [Show full text]
  • Antlions (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) of Albania
    Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool (2013) 37: 362-366 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/ © TÜBİTAK Research Article doi:10.3906/zoo-1209-23 Antlions (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) of Albania Dušan DEVETAK*, Jan PODLESNIK, Vesna KLOKOČOVNIK, Franc JANŽEKOVIČ Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia Received: 21.09.2012 Accepted: 16.12.2012 Published Online: 29.04.2013 Printed: 29.05.2013 Abstract: The Myrmeleontidae fauna of Albania was studied in July of 2012. The study revealed 14 antlion species, which included new records for the country. Among collected species, Myrmeleon hyalinus Olivier, 1811, Euroleon nostras (Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785), Macronemurus appendiculatus (Latreille, 1807), Macronemurus bilineatus Brauer, 1868, and Neuroleon arenarius (Navás, 1904) are new records for the Albanian fauna. Sand dune habitat in the national park Divjakë Karavasta represents the northernmost known locality of Myrmeleon hyalinus in the Balkan Peninsula. Key words: Neuroptera, antlions, Myrmeleontidae, new records, Albania 1. Introduction Digital images captured at different focal planes were The antlion fauna (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) of assembled using the application Helicon Focus 4.62 Lite. Albania has been insufficiently investigated up to now. Specimens were preserved in ethanol and deposited in the The oldest record dates back to 1923, when Pongrácz first author’s collection. Nomenclature and taxonomy is (1923) recorded 5 antlion species from the country. Later, used in accordance with Aspöck et al. (1980) and Aspöck et Navás (1932) recorded 1 antlion species from Albania. At al. (2001). We followed the zoogeographical categorization the end of the Second World War, Capra (1945) listed 5 of neuropteran fauna of the Balkan Peninsula proposed by antlion species, among which he described Cueta albanica Popov and Letardi (2010).
    [Show full text]
  • Larval Morphology of the Antlion Myrmecaelurus Trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with Notes on Larval Biology
    TERMS OF USE This pdf is provided by Magnolia Press for private/research use. Commercial sale or deposition in a public library or website is prohibited. Zootaxa 3641 (4): 491–500 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2013 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4.14 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B04E6A99-02A2-42EB-A8F5-9665CBB89DF1 Larval morphology of the antlion Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology DUŠAN DEVETAK1, VESNA KLOKOČOVNIK1, SAŠKA LIPOVŠEK1,2, ELISABETH BOCK3 & GERD LEITINGER3 1Department of Biology, FNM, University of Maribor, Koroška 160, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: [email protected] 2Medical Faculty, University of Maribor, Slomškov trg 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia 3Institute of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Medical University Graz, Harrachgasse 21, 8010 Graz, Austria Abstract Morphology and behaviour of third instar larvae of the Holomediterranean antlion species Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas) are described. Larvae are facultative pit-builders, they either ambush their prey at the surface, or dig pitfall traps that prey fall in to. Dark brown spots on dorsal and ventral sides of the head and on dorsal side of the thorax are charac- teristic of the larvae. Eye tubercles are not prominent. Jaws are equipped with long bristles, campaniform sensilla, sensilla coeloconica, and digitiform sensilla. A unique feature is the shape of the tips of all three teeth that is screw-like with a polyhedral surface. The body surface is covered with longitudinally grooved bristles and plumose hairs.
    [Show full text]
  • Antlions (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae) Along the North Caspian Shore; Distributional Analysis and Zoogeographical Division of Caspian Coast of Russia
    BIODIVERSITAS ISSN: 1412-033X Volume 21, Number 1, January 2020 E-ISSN: 2085-4722 Pages: 258-281 DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d210134 Antlions (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae) along the North Caspian shore; distributional analysis and zoogeographical division of Caspian coast of Russia VICTOR A. KRIVOKHATSKY1, ILHAMA G. KERIMOVA2,♥, VASILYI V. ANIKIN3, DMITRYI M. ASTAKHOV4,†, ANNA S. ASTAKHOVA5, ELENA V. ILYINA6, IGOR S. PLOTNIKOV1, JULIA V. SAMARTSEVA1 1Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences. Universitetskaya Emb., 1, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia 2Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. A. Abbaszadeh str., 115, passage 1128, block 504, Baku Az1004, Azerbaijan. Tel. +994-70-7119670, ♥email: [email protected] 3Сhernyshevskii Saratov State University. ul. AStrakhanskay 83, Saratov 410012, Russia 4Volgograd State University. Universitetskiy pr., 100, Volgograd 400062, Russia 5Volgograd Branch of the Russian Entomological Society, Lenin Avenue, 27, Volgograd 400066, Russia 6Prikaspiyskiy Institute of Biological Resources, Daghestan Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 45 M. Gadzhieva Str., Makhachkala 367025, Russia Manuscript received: 13 August 2019. Revision accepted: 26 December 2019. Abstract. Krivokhatsky VA, Kerimova IG, Anikin VV, Astakhov DM, Astakhova AS, Ilyina EV, Plotnikov IS, Samartseva JV. 2020. Antlions (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae) along the North Caspian shore; distributional analysis and zoogeographical division of Caspian coast of Russia. Biodiversitas 21: 258-281. Zoogeographically regionalization of Northern Caspian territory, adjacent Eastern Caucasian and Volga-Ural regions were carried out by using the original cladistic program (CLA) based on faunistic investigations of Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae. A total of 47 of elementary districts of physical geography or geobotanical mapping and 41 species of antlions were used for analyses in the Matrix.
    [Show full text]