Rearing the larval stages of Distoleon tetragrammicus (Fabricius, 1798) (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) from egg to adult, with notes on their behaviour

Abstract

Eggs of the ant-lion Distoleon tetragrammicus (Fabricius, 1798) were obtained from gravid females for the first time. Larvae were reared to the adult stage from eggs. The eggs and the different parts of the larva such as head, mandibles and antennae, are described and illustrated and larval behavior in each stage was monitored.

Larval morphology of the antlion Neuroleon microstenus (McLachlan, 1898) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology

“…Larvae of N. microstenus have prominent eye tubercles and sparse short bristles on the jaws. Prominent eye tubercles and sparse mandibular bristles are both characteristic for non-pit-builders, like Distoleon (Satar et al 2006) and other Neuroleon species (Steffan 1975). On the abdomen apex of N. microstenus the two groups of digging bristles are arranged in the same way as in Neuroleon ochreatus (Navás, 1904) (Steffan 1975).…”

<strong>The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera)</strong>

“…Comments. The genus Distoleon is a large genus, comprising at least 120 species distributed all across the Old World (Stange 2004 The first report about a not pit-building antlion larva regards almost surely this species (Réaumur 1742; Bonnet 1780) but the first accurate scientific description was realized much later by Brauer (1854), subsequently it was redescribed many times (Hagen 1873;Redtenbacher 1884;Steffan 1975;Satar et al 2006, Krivokhatsky 2011. scrubland, under pine trees, I.2012 (D. Badano), 4 L3.…”

Comparative description of larvae of the European species of Distoleon Banks: D. annulatus (Klug, 1834) and D. tetragrammicus (Fabricius, 1798) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae)

“…The third instar larvae of the genus Distoleon are distinguished by the following characters: mandible equipped with 3 pairs of teeth, pronotum with a thick covering of large setae interspersed with spiniform ones, mesothoracic spiracle protruding on tubercle, VIII sternite armed with odontoid processes, IX sternite provided with prominent rastra bearing 4 pairs of digging setae comparable in size. Both the examined species present in the mandible 1 seta between each pair of teeth, few (4) setae between the basal tooth and the insertion of the mandible, although 2 setae between the basal and the second tooth are reported by Satar et al (2006) for D. tetragrammicus.…”

“…Steffan (1975) was the first to investigate ecological requirements, reporting the presence of this species in sandy soils with a rich component of humus and in alluvial deposits; the present study confirms the observation of the above mentioned author. Finally, Satar et al (2006) described the third instar larvae and the eggs.…”

“…The larvae of this genus do not construct pitfalls traps and they are ambush predators, awaiting passing prey below the surface of sandy soils. The biology and larval stages were known only for the European D. tetragrammicus (Fabricius, 1798) (Brauer 1854;Hagen 1873;Redtenbacher 1884;Steffan 1975;Gepp & Hölzel 1989;Satar et al 2006;Gepp 2010;Krivokhatsky 2011;Badano 2013) and for few Far Eastern species (Stange et al 2003;Stange 2004). No available information exists on the larvae of the other European species D. annulatus (Klug, 1834), because the only alleged existing account on the larva of this taxon (Willmann 1977) is erroneous and it actually refers to Gymnocnemia variegata (Schneider, 1845), as clearly demonstrated by Cesaroni et al (2010).…”