Zootaxa 4751 (1): 153–160 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) https://www.mapress.com/j/zt/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2020 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4751.1.9 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AD6A4B5D-41BA-440E-B1AA-6165C7505522

Tribe Myrmeleontini (: Planipennia: Myrmeleontidae) in

ABOLFAZL HAJIESMAEILIAN1, 2, 3, REZA VAFAEI SHOUSHTARI1, FARIBA MOZAFFARIAN2 & EBRAHIM EBRAHIMI2 1Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran, E-mail: ahajiesmaeilian@ gmail.com, [email protected]; [email protected]. 2Insect Research Department, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Exten- sion Organization, P.O. Box 1454, 19395 Tehran, Iran, E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]. 3Corresponding author

Abstract

During a study of the family Myrmeleontidae of Iran, specimens of the tribe Myrmeleontini, housed in Hayk Mirzayans Museum were examined. Specimens of nostras and noacki were identified for the first time from Iran. An identification key, illustrations and distributional maps are presented for the Iranian of Myrmeleontini.

Key words: Fauna, Myrmeleontidae, Myrmeleon noacki, , Iran

Introduction

The subfamily Latreille of the family Myrmeleontidae Latreille, consists of four tribes in the Pa- learctic region (Machado et al. 2018). The tribe Myrmeleontini Latreille, 1802 is one of the smallest tribes within the family having only three genera (Hölzel 1986). The members of the tribe are recognized by having the 2nd anal vein basally parallel to the 1st anal vein, which turns at a right angle toward the 3nd anal vein that fuses both veins in forewing (Hölzel 1972). The genera Euroleon Esben-Petersen and Myrmeleon Linnaeus are known to occur in Iran (Hölzel 1972; Mirmoayedi et al. 1999). Both genera are distinguished by their wing spots and fork angle of ante- rior Cubital vein (Krivokhatsky & Zakharenko 1994). The vein angle in Euroleon is visibly smaller than the one in Myrmeleon (Hölzel 1972). The genus Euroleon includes 6 known species described worldwide (Bao & Wang 2006) and was first reported from Iran with the discovery of E. parvus (Mirmoayedi et al. 2015). The genus Myrmeleon contains 176 species (Stange 2004) of which Linnaeus, M. hyalinus Olivier, M. incospicuus Rambur and M. pseudohyalinus Hölzel were previously reported from Iran (Hölzel 1972). Myrmeleon formicarius has been characterized as a boreal species and was excluded from the Iranian fauna (Mirmoayedi et al. 2015). In this paper, we confirm the occurrence of M. formicarius in Iran and also present additional distributional records for two other species of Myrmeleontini in the country.

Materials and methods

The study was based on the specimens held by the Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum. The species were identified based on their external morphology and male genitalia. To examine the male genitalia, the postabdomen from the 6th segment was removed and cleared using 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution while being heated in boil- ing water. After examination, the genitalia were rinsed thoroughly in distilled water and put in 70%, 85%, 96% and absolute ethanol before being transferred in glycerin. Terminology of the wing venation follows Markl (1954) and Adams (1956). The distributional maps of materials examined and extracted data of literature review were provided using Arc Map software version 10.4.1.

Accepted by D. Bowles: 13 Feb. 2020; published: 16 Mar. 2020 153 Abbreviations

Cua: anterior of cubital vein Cua1: first branch of anterior cubital Cua2: second branch of anterior cubital Mp2: second branch of posterior median

Systematics

Identification key to the Iranian Myrmeleontini genera and species. A summary and comparison of di- agnostic characters for the species of Myrmeleon in Iran is shown in Table 1.

1- Forewing, Cua branches parallel, Cua2 run along Cua1...... 2 (Euroleon) - Forewing, Cua branches not parallel, Cua2 abruptly meeting border of wing...... 3 (Myrmeleon)

2- Forewing, anterior half with some separated spots; posterior half with a clear spot near tip of Cup+1A. Pronotum entirely black with a yellow central line (Fig. 7)...... E. nostras - Forewing, anterior half spotted; posterior half without spots. Pronotum predominantly black in the form of two trapezoidal pat- terns, each with a yellow circle-shaped mark in their anterior half (Fig. 8)...... E. parvus

3- Large size, length of forewing 40 mm. Pronotum black with yellow margins (Fig. 9)...... M. formicarius - Medium size, length of forewing less than 30 mm. Pronotum not as above...... 4

4- Body brown. Wing venation light brown. Pronotum yellow with light and dark brown marks (Fig. 11)...... M. hyalinus - Body black or dark brown. Wing venation blackish brown. Pronotum predominantly dark...... 5

5- Pronotum predominantly black, with a yellow central line in the anterior half (Fig. 10). Length of hind spur shorter than first tarsal segment...... M. noacki - Pronotum predominantly dark brown, with a yellow central line in the anterior half and two yellow circle-shaped marks in the posterior half (Fig. 12). Spur of hind leg equal in length with first tarsal segment...... M. inconspicuus

Genus Euroleon Esben-Petersen, 1918:125.

Hölzel, 1972: 36; Aspöck, 1980: 134; Krivokhatsky & Zakharenko, 1994: 34-45; Krivokhatsky. 1994: 49-61.

Euroleon nostras (Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785) (Figs. 1, 7, 13, 16, 22)

Formicaleo nostras Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785: 360

Distribution: Widespread in Europe, Russia, , Morocco, southwest Asia, Iran (New Record). Material examined: 1♀, , Kelardasht, Rudbarak, N: 36° 28’ 56” E: 51° 07’ 39”, 1800 m, 1.IX.1990, leg.: E. Ebrahimi, M. Badii; 1♂, , Kalaleh, Gharesar, N: 37° 32’ 30” E: 55° 43’ 36”, 380 m, 2.X.1992, leg.: E. Ebrahimi, M. Badii; 1 specimen with damaged abdomen, same, but Sulgerd, Yakhti Kalan, N: 37° 26’ 59” E: 56° 08’ 23”, 1500 m, 5.X.1994, leg.: H. Mirzayans, E. Ebrahimi, M. Badii.

Euroleon parvus Hölzel, 1972 (Figs. 2, 8, 17, 23)

Euroleon parvus Hölzel, 1972: 36

Distribution: , , Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, , Kyrgyzstan, China, Iran (Mirmoayedi et al. 1999: Sharlegh, Golestan National Park). Material examined: 2♀, Khorasan-e Shomali Province, Golestan National Park, Almeh, N: 37° 20’ E: 56°

154 · Zootaxa 4751 (1) © 2020 Magnolia Press HAJIESMAEILIAN et al. 10’, 1700 m, 25.VII.2001, leg.: E. Gilasian, M. Moghaddam, R. Ghayourfar; 1 specimen with damaged abdomen, Golestan Province, Golestan National Park, Sulgerd, N: 37° 32’ 10” E: 56° 13’ 30”, 1250 m, 28.VII.2001, leg.: E. Gilasian, M. Moghaddam, R. Ghayourfar.

Figs. 1–6. Iranian Myrmeleontini. 1, Euroleon nostras (♀); 2, E. parvus (♀); 3, Myrmeleon formicarius (♀); 4, M. noacki (♂); 5, M. hyalinus (♀); 6, M. inconspicuus (♀).

Diagnoses: Euroleon species are distinguished by their characteristic patterns on wings, head, pronotum and anal cross veins. They have spots in their anterior half of the forewing membrane, while Euroleon nostras has a distinct spot near the end of Cup+1A in the posterior half of the forewing. Anal cross veins are divided after A2+A3 vein, creating two rows of cells in E. parvus, but they are almost non-existent in E. nostras. The costal area of E. nostras has some forked cross veins before the pterostigma, while they are entirely simple in E. parvus. The pronotum of E. nostras is entirely black, but divided by a yellow central line (Fig. 7). The pronotum of E. parvus is characterized by two black trapezoidal patterns each having a yellow circular marking in the anterior half and yellow lateral margins patterns (Fig. 8). Features of the face and vertex for E. nostras and E. parvus are shown in Figures 16 and 17.

Tribe Myrmeleontini in Iran Zootaxa 4751 (1) © 2020 Magnolia Press · 155 Figs. 7–15. Iranian Myrmeleontini. Thorax (7-12): 7, Euroleon nostras; 8, E. parvus; 9, Myrmeleon formicarius; 10, M. noacki; 11, M. hyalinus; 12, M. inconspicuus. Male genitalia (13-15): 13, E. nostras; 14, M. noacki; 15, M. hyalinus.

Genus Myrmeleon Linnaeus, 1767: 913

Hölzel, 1972: 36; Aspöck, 1980: 131.

Myrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, 1767 (Figs. 3, 9, 18, 24)

Myrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, 1767: 914

156 · Zootaxa 4751 (1) © 2020 Magnolia Press HAJIESMAEILIAN et al. Figs. 16–21. Iranian Myrmeleontini. Head. 16, Euroleon nostras; 17, E. parvus; 18, Myrmeleon formicarius; 19, M. noacki; 20, M. hyalinus; 21, M. inconspicuus.

Distribution: widespread in Palaearctic Region, Iran (Hölzel, 1972: Assalem) Comment: The species was reported from Iran by Hölzel (1972) based on a single female specimen, but later it was characterized as a boreal species leading to its exclusion from the Iranian antlion fauna (Mirmoayedi et al. 2015). Our study suggests that the distribution of this species in Iran is restricted to the Caspian Coast province of Mazandaran. Material examined: 1♀, Mazandaran Province, Tonekabon, Sehezar, Ash Mahaleh, N: 36° 35’ 12” E: 50° 49’ 55”, 760 m, 7.IX.1990, leg.: E. Ebrahimi, M. Badii; 1♀, same, but Tonekabon, Dohezar, Asal Mahalleh, N: 36° 39’ 32” E: 50° 48’ 04”, 1400-1800 m, 9. VIII.1999, leg.: E. Ebrahimi, M. Mofidi-Neyestanak, M. Badii.

Myrmeleon noacki Ohm, 1965 (Figs. 4, 10, 14, 19, 25)

Myrmeleon noacki Ohm, 1965: 108.

Distribution: Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Turkey, , Iran (New Record) Material examined: 1♂, Kuhkiloyeh & Boyerahmad Province, Yassuj, , Absepah, N: 30° 49’ 03.87” E: 51° 28’ 31.03”, 21.VI.2005, leg.: R. Zahiri, M. Nematian.

Myrmeleon hyalinus Olivier, 1811 (Figs. 5, 11, 15, 20, 26)

Myrmeleon hyalinus Olivier, 1811: 126.

Distribution: Southern Europe, North Africa, Canary Islands, India, southwest Asia, Iran (Hölzel, 1972: 80 km southeast Tehran; Mirmoayedi et al. 2015: Aminabad, Isfahan)

Tribe Myrmeleontini in Iran Zootaxa 4751 (1) © 2020 Magnolia Press · 157 Figs. 22–28. Distributional maps for Iranian Myrmeleontini. 22, Euroleon nostras; 23, E. parvus; 24, Myrmeleon formicarius; 25, M. noacki; 26, M. hyalinus; 27, M. pseudohyalinus; 28, M. inconspicuus.

Material examined: 1♂, 1♀, 4 specimens with damaged abdomen, Kerman Province, Jiroft, Kahnuj, N: 28° 01’ 30” E: 57° 44’ 46”, 650 m, 10.IV.1997, leg.: H. Barari, M. Badii, A. Sarafrazi; 1♂, 1♀, Hormozgan Province,

158 · Zootaxa 4751 (1) © 2020 Magnolia Press HAJIESMAEILIAN et al. Banifarour Island, N: 26° 07’ 11” E: 54° 26’ 28”, 0-20 m, 4.II.1999, leg.: H. Barari, M. Mofidi-Neyestanak; 1♀, same, but Gheshm Island, Turian, N: 26° 52’ 35” E: 56° 01’ 05”, 29.II.1999, leg.: R. Ghayourfar, Sh. Manzari; 1♂, 1 specimen with damaged abdomen, same, but Abumosa Island, N: 25° 52’ 47” E: 55° 01’ 59”, 0 m, 6.II.2001, leg.: E. Ebrahimi, M. Mofidi-Neyestanak; 1♀, Gilan Province, Tarom, Gilvan, N: 36° 49’ 47” E: 49° 20’ 14”, 322 m, 1.VII.2003, leg.: M. Moghaddam, H. Naserzadeh.

Myrmeleon pseudohyalinus Hölzel, 1972 (Fig. 27)

Myrmeleon (Morter) pseudohyalinus Hölzel, 1972: 38.

Distribution: Afghanistan, Morocco, Iran (Hölzel, 1972: Fars Province, Miyan Kotal, Kazerun as type locality, Sis- tan & Baluchestan Province, 100 km North of Zahedan and same, but Iranshahr; Mirmoayedi et al. 2015: Quir előtt 15 km Firuzabad, 28-30˚N/52-54˚E).

Myrmeleon inconspicuus Rambur, 1842 (Figs. 6, 12, 21, 28) Myrmeleon inconspicuus Rambur, 1842: 406.

Distribution: Europe, North Africa, southwest Asia, Iran (Hölzel, 1972: Vanak, 15 km North of Tehran; Mirmoayedi et al. 2015: Province, Karaj) Material examined: 1♀, Mazandaran Province, Nowshahr, N: 36° 36’ 53” E: 51° 30’ 21”, 25.VI.1965, leg.: E. Dezfulian.

Table. 1. Comparison of the diagnostic characters of Myrmeleon species in Iran.

Length of Body Wing Pterostigma Pronotum Vertex Spur of Species forewing color venation color hind leg

M. 40 mm Black Black; Distinct, with Black with Entirely black Shorter formicarius interrupted white cross yellow than first with brown veins margins tarsal dots and lines segment M. noacki 27 mm Black Black ; Distinct, with Black with Entirely black Shorter interrupted white cross a yellow than first with brown veins line in the tarsal dots and lines anterior half segment M. hyalinus 25 mm Brown Yellowish Indistinct, cross Yellow Predominantly Shorter light brown veins same with brown with brown spots than first color with other marks tarsal veins segment M. 26 mm Dark Dark brown; Distinct, with Black with a Predominantly Equal inconspicuus brown interrupted white cross yellow line with black spots in length with lighter veins and yellow with first dots and lines circular tarsal marks segment

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Prof. Ali Satar (Dicle University, Turkey) for confirming the identity of Euroleon species. We also thank Dr. Bruno Michel (The French research institute for tropical agriculture CIRAD, France) for confirming the identity of Euroleon parvus and Prof. Victor Krivokhatsky (Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia) for confirming the identity of Myrmeleon formicarius. We thank Dr. Mehrdad Parchami-Araghi (Iranian Re- search Institute of Plant Protection, Iran) for checking the English of the manuscript. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments that improved the paper.

Tribe Myrmeleontini in Iran Zootaxa 4751 (1) © 2020 Magnolia Press · 159 References

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