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Setae and sensilla in the Iberian Myrmeleon Linnaeus, 1767 larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)

ABSTRACT

Myrmeleon (tribe Myrmeleontini) is the most successful genus within Myrmeleontidae in number of species. This is probably due to its pit-building behavior, a famous adaptation of antlion larvae but present only in a few genera of the family. In the Iberian Peninsula, where only two other genera are able to construct these traps (Euroleon in tribe Myrmeleontini and Myrmecaelurus in tribe Myrmecaelurini), five species of Myrmeleon are present: M. formicarius, M. gerlindae, M. inconspicuus, M. almohadarum and M. hyalinus. There are some useful characters to tell apart the larvae of these species using optical microscope, including the disposition of digging setae or some color spots. In this work, we study the type of setae on these species in their larval stage using SEM. The type of bristles, digging setae, and the rest of sensilla found are not different in shape, surface or structure between species. All of these confer them a great equipment in their psammophilous lifestyle.

Keywords:
Myrmeleontini; Chaetotaxy; Pit-building traps; Spain; Sensorial receptors

Introduction

The family Myrmeleontidae is the most diverse family within Neuroptera, probably due to the great adaptations of their larvae (Mansell, 1999Mansell, M.W., 1999. Evolution and success of antlions (Neuropterida: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Stapfia 60, 49-58.; Badano and Pantaleoni, 2014aBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
, 2014bBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014b. The larvae of European Ascalaphidae (Neuroptera). Zootaxa, 3796, 2, 287-319. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3796.2.4.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3796.2....
; Acevedo Ramos et al., 2020Acevedo Ramos, F., Monserrat, V.J., Contreras‐Ramos, A., Pérez‐González, S., 2020. Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera). J. Morphol. 281 (10), 1191-1209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240...
). These larvae show a high diversity of lifestyles and types of habitats such as tree holes, burrows, caves, etc.; nevertheless, the psammophilous adaptations of antlions probably reached the most successful lifestyle (Mansell, 1999Mansell, M.W., 1999. Evolution and success of antlions (Neuropterida: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Stapfia 60, 49-58.; Stange, 2004Stange, L.A., 2004. A systematic catalog, bibliography and classification of the world antlions (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 74, 565.; Badano and Pantaleoni, 2014aBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
, 2014bBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014b. The larvae of European Ascalaphidae (Neuroptera). Zootaxa, 3796, 2, 287-319. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3796.2.4.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3796.2....
; Acevedo Ramos et al., 2020Acevedo Ramos, F., Monserrat, V.J., Contreras‐Ramos, A., Pérez‐González, S., 2020. Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera). J. Morphol. 281 (10), 1191-1209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240...
).

In the Iberian Peninsula, according to the classification of Machado et al. (2019)Machado, R.J.P., Gillung, J.P., Winterton, S.L., Garzón-Orduña, I.J., Lemmon, A.R., Lemmon, E.M., Oswald, J.D., 2019. Owlflies are derived antlions: anchored phylogenomics supports a new phylogeny and classification of Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera). Syst. Entomol. 44, 418-450. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12334.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12334...
, at least 36 species of this family are presented (Monserrat and Acevedo, 2013Monserrat, V.J., Acevedo, F., 2013. Los mirmeleónidos (hormigas-león) de la península ibérica e islas Baleares (Insecta, Neuropterida, Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae). Graellsia 69, 283-321. https://doi.org/10.3989/graellsia.2013.v69.098.
https://doi.org/10.3989/graellsia.2013.v...
; Monserrat et al., 2014Monserrat, V.J., Badano, D., Acevedo, F., 2014. Nuevos datos de ascaláfidos para la península Ibérica, con una nueva especie para la fauna europea (Insecta, Neuropterida, Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae). Heteropterus Rvta. Entomol. 14, 147-167.; Oswald, 2022Oswald, J.D., 2022. Neuropterida Species of the World: A catalogue and monograph of the species and subspecies of the extant and extinct Neuroptera, Megaloptera, Raphidioptera, and Glosselytrodea (Insecta: Neuropterida) of the World (Version 6.0). Available in: http://lacewing.tamu.edu/SpeciesCatalog/Main (accessed 11 May 2022).
http://lacewing.tamu.edu/SpeciesCatalog/...
), including four subfamlies, eight tribes and 19 genera. This is one of the richest European region in number of antlion species.

The most known tribe within this family is probably Myrmeleontini Latreille, 1802 (subfamily Myrmeleontinae): it has approximately 242 species within 13 genera (Oswald and Machado, 2018Oswald, J.D., Machado, R.J.P., 2018. Biodiversity of the Neuropterida (Insecta: Neuroptera: Megaloptera, and Raphidioptera). In: Foottit, R.G., Adler, P.H. (Eds.), Insect Biodiversity: Science and Society. Vol. 2. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 627-671. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118945582.ch21
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118945582.ch...
). Two genera belonging to this tribe has been reported in the Iberian region: Myrmeleon Linnaeus, 1767 and Euroleon Esben-Petersen, 1918 (with only Euroleon nostras (Fourcroy, 1785) present) (Monserrat et al., 2014Monserrat, V.J., Badano, D., Acevedo, F., 2014. Nuevos datos de ascaláfidos para la península Ibérica, con una nueva especie para la fauna europea (Insecta, Neuropterida, Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae). Heteropterus Rvta. Entomol. 14, 147-167.). This tribe can be characterized by the behavior of constructing pitfall traps in their larval instars. However this is not an exclusive strategy of this tribe, which is also shared with Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1781) of the tribe Myrmecaelurini Esben-Petersen, 1918 (Badano and Pantaleoni, 2014aBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
) in the Iberian Peninsula. The genus Myrmeleon has a sub-cosmopolitan distribution, with approximately 180 described species (Stange, 2004Stange, L.A., 2004. A systematic catalog, bibliography and classification of the world antlions (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 74, 565.; Oswald, 2022Oswald, J.D., 2022. Neuropterida Species of the World: A catalogue and monograph of the species and subspecies of the extant and extinct Neuroptera, Megaloptera, Raphidioptera, and Glosselytrodea (Insecta: Neuropterida) of the World (Version 6.0). Available in: http://lacewing.tamu.edu/SpeciesCatalog/Main (accessed 11 May 2022).
http://lacewing.tamu.edu/SpeciesCatalog/...
). It is represented in this region by at least five species: Myrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, 1767 and Myrmeleon gerlindae Hölzel, 1974 of M. formicarius-group, Myrmeleon inconspicuus Rambur, 1842 and Myrmeleon almohadarum Badano, Acevedo, Monserrat & Pantaleoni, 2016 of M. inconspicuus-group, and Myrmeleon hyalinus Olivier, 1811. The species groups were established by Pantaleoni et al. (2010)Pantaleoni, R.A., Cesaroni, C., Nicoli Aldini, R., 2010. Myrmeleon mariaemathildae n. sp.: a new Mediterranean pit-building antlion (Neuropterida Myrmeleontidae). Bull. Insectol. 63, 91-98. according to adult characters, but also some larval features are useful to separate them. M. formicarius - group is characterized by an anterior row of digging setae composed by four bristles on the IX abdominal sternite (although M. hyalinus share this feature), while the larvae of M. inconspicuus-group are characterized by an anterior row of digging setae composed by at least six bristles on the IX abdominal sternite (Badano and Pantaleoni, 2014aBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
; Badano et al., 2016Badano, D., Acevedo, F., Pantaleoni, R., Monserrat, V.J., 2016. Myrmeleon almohadarum sp. nov., from Spain and North Africa, with description of the larva (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae). Zootaxa 4196 (2), 210-220. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4196.2.2.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4196.2....
). Apart from these species Myrmeleon bore (Tjerder, 1941) has also been reported in the bibliography, probably as a labeled mistake by the collector (Letardi, 1988Letardi, A. 1988. Myrmeleon bore (Tjeder, 1941) new to Spain (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae). Frustula entomol. 20 (33), 150-151. ; Monserrat and Acevedo, 2013Monserrat, V.J., Acevedo, F., 2013. Los mirmeleónidos (hormigas-león) de la península ibérica e islas Baleares (Insecta, Neuropterida, Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae). Graellsia 69, 283-321. https://doi.org/10.3989/graellsia.2013.v69.098.
https://doi.org/10.3989/graellsia.2013.v...
). All larvae of these species have been described using optical microscopy (Badano and Pantaleoni, 2014aBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
), and also the larvae of M. formicarius (Lipovšek Delakorda et al., 2009Lipovšek Delakorda, S., Pabst, M.A., Devetak, D., 2009. Morphology of the eyes and sensilla in the antlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). In: Pabst, M.A., Zellnig, G. (Eds.), MC 2009 - Microscopy Conference (Life Sciences), Graz, Austria,Vol. 2. Proceedings. Graz: Verlag der Technischen Universität, pp. 403-404.), M. inconspicuus (Nicoli Aldini, 2007Nicoli Aldini, R., 2007. Observations on the larval morphology of the antlion Myrmeleon bore (Tjeder, 1941) (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae) and its life cycle in the Po Valley (northern Italy). Ann. Mus. Civico Stor. Naturale Ferrara 8, 59-66.) and M. bore (Nicoli Aldini, 2007Nicoli Aldini, R., 2007. Observations on the larval morphology of the antlion Myrmeleon bore (Tjeder, 1941) (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae) and its life cycle in the Po Valley (northern Italy). Ann. Mus. Civico Stor. Naturale Ferrara 8, 59-66.) have been studied by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), so as the other Iberian species pit-fall builders: Myrmecaelurus trigrammus and Euroleon nostras (Lipovšek Delakorda et al., 2009Lipovšek Delakorda, S., Pabst, M.A., Devetak, D., 2009. Morphology of the eyes and sensilla in the antlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). In: Pabst, M.A., Zellnig, G. (Eds.), MC 2009 - Microscopy Conference (Life Sciences), Graz, Austria,Vol. 2. Proceedings. Graz: Verlag der Technischen Universität, pp. 403-404.; Devetak et al., 2013Devetak, D., Klokočovnik, V., Lipovšek, S., Bock, E., Leitinger, G., 2013. Larval morphology of the antlion Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 3641, 491-500. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4.14.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4....
). Apart from this, Myrmeleon mariaemathildae Pantaleoni, Cesaroni & Nicoli Aldini 2010 from Sardinia and Tunisia, and M. yemenicus Hölzel, 2002 from Arabian Peninsula have been described with both optical and electron microscopy (Pantaleoni et al., 2010Pantaleoni, R.A., Cesaroni, C., Nicoli Aldini, R., 2010. Myrmeleon mariaemathildae n. sp.: a new Mediterranean pit-building antlion (Neuropterida Myrmeleontidae). Bull. Insectol. 63, 91-98.; Devetak et al., 2010aDevetak, D., Lipovšek, S., Pabst, M.A., 2010a. Morphology and biology of the antlion Myrmeleon yemenicus Hölzel, 2002 (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae). Zootaxa 2531, 48-56.). The chaetotaxy of antlion larvae has a great importance and has been remarked its phylogenetic significance (Badano et al., 2017Badano, D., Aspöck, U., Aspöck, H., Cerretti, P.F., 2017. Phylogeny of Myrmeleontiformia based on larval morphology (Neuropterida: neuroptera). Syst. Entomol. 42, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12200.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12200...
). In this study, setae and sensilla of the five Myrmeleon species known for sure to be distributed in the Iberian Peninsula have been studied and compared using SEM techniques.

Materials and methods

The study was carried out with third instar larvae. The same protocol of Devetak et al. (2010aDevetak, D., Lipovšek, S., Pabst, M.A., 2010a. Morphology and biology of the antlion Myrmeleon yemenicus Hölzel, 2002 (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae). Zootaxa 2531, 48-56., 2010bDevetak, D., Lipovšek, S., Pabst, M.A., 2010b. Larval morphology of the antlion Neuroleon microstenus (McLachlan, 1898) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 2428, 55-63., 2013Devetak, D., Klokočovnik, V., Lipovšek, S., Bock, E., Leitinger, G., 2013. Larval morphology of the antlion Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 3641, 491-500. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4.14.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4....
) was implemented. All specimens were fixed in glutaraldehyde and paraformaldehyde in PBS and washed in a buffer of 1% osmium in water. Then, they were dehydrated in increasing concentrations of ethanol and critical-point dried. They were coated with gold and studied using a JEOL JSM 6400 Scanning Electron Microscope at 15-20 kV, in Centro Nacional de Microscopía Electrónica in Universidad Complutense de Madrid. The same terminology employed by Lipovšek Delakorda et al. (2009)Lipovšek Delakorda, S., Pabst, M.A., Devetak, D., 2009. Morphology of the eyes and sensilla in the antlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). In: Pabst, M.A., Zellnig, G. (Eds.), MC 2009 - Microscopy Conference (Life Sciences), Graz, Austria,Vol. 2. Proceedings. Graz: Verlag der Technischen Universität, pp. 403-404., Badano and Pantaleoni (2014a)Badano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
and Acevedo Ramos et al. (2020)Acevedo Ramos, F., Monserrat, V.J., Contreras‐Ramos, A., Pérez‐González, S., 2020. Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera). J. Morphol. 281 (10), 1191-1209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240...
is used. The studied specimens were collected in Spain. The collecting data is as below.

Myrmeleon formicarius Linnaeus, 1767

Spain: Madrid: Abantos, 4.VII.2012, 2 specimens, F. Acevedo leg.; 29.6.2013, 2 specimens, F. Acevedo leg.

Myrmeleon gerlindae Hölzel, 1974

Spain: Huelva: Arroyo Julianejo, 24.V.2012, 1 specimen, F. Acevedo, V. J. Monserrat legs.; Granada: La Herradura, Cerro Gordo, 2.IX.2000, 1 specimen, V. J. Monserrat leg.

Myrmeleon hyalinus Olivier, 1811

Spain: Almería: Rambla Torregarcía, 14.VI.2012, 2 specimens, F. Acevedo leg.; Amoladeras, 11.VII.2014, 2 specimens, F. Acevedo leg.; Rodalquilar, El Playazo, 11.VII.2014, 2 specimens, F. Acevedo leg.

Myrmeleon inconspicuus Rambur, 1842

Spain: Ciudad Real: El Chorro, P. N. Cabañeros, 20.VI.2014, 2 specimens, F. Acevedo leg.; Huelva: Punta Umbría, 24.V.2012, 2 specimens, F. Acevedo, V. J. Monserrat legs.

Myrmeleon almohadarum Badano, Acevedo, Monserrat & Pantaleoni, 2016

Spain: Cádiz: Las Cañillas, 25.V.2012, 2 specimens, F. Acevedo, V. J. Monserrat legs.; Cádiz: Bolonia, 24.V.2012, 1 specimen, F. Acevedo, V. J. Monserrat legs.

Results

The Iberian Myrmeleon species of this study present the same types of bristles, plumose hairs, digging setae and sensilla, so the commented characteristics are applicable to all of these larvae (Figs. 1, 2).

Figure 1 A-E
SEM images of Iberian Myrmeleon larvae. A: Myrmeleon hyalinus: complete body, lateral view. B: M. formicarius: complete body, ventral view. C: M. hyalinus: head setae, dorsal view. D: M. almohadarum: thoracic setae, dorsal view. E: M. gerlindae: abdominal setae, dorsal view. Abbreviations: ant: antenna; brst: bristles; digs: digging setae; grs: sensilla placodea; inb: inner jaws bristles; lp: labial palp; op: odontoid process; ph: plumose hairs; sb: sensilla basiconica; sco: sensilla coeloconica; st: sensilla trichodea; stmt: stemmata; Tsp: thoracic setiferous process.
Figure 2 A-F
SEM images of Iberian Myrmeleon larvae. A: M. gerlindae: mandibular base, eye tubercle and antenna, dorso-lateral view. B: M. formicarius: jaws and labial palp, ventral view. C: M. hyalinus: pronotum and mesothoracic setiferous process, dorso-lateral view. D: M. hyalinus: claws of third leg. E. M. hyalinus: IX sternite, lateral view. F: M. inconspicuus: IX sternite, postventral view. Abbreviations: ant: antenna; brst: bristles; digs: digging setae; grs: sensilla placodea; inb: inner jaws bristles; lp: labial palp; op: odontoid process; ph: plumose hairs; sb: sensilla basiconica; sco: sensilla coeloconica; st: sensilla trichodea; stmt: stemmata; Tsp: thoracic setiferous process.

The bristles differ mainly in length and width (Figs. 1A-E; 2A, 2C, 2E-F). The longest are situated laterally on thoracic and abdominal setiferous processes (Figs. 1A, 1B, 2C, 2E-F). All bristles are poorly ornamented, with stripes and not very evident spiculation, most of them clearly point-shaped (Figs. 1C-E, 2C, 2E-F). They are stouter in dorsal and ventral surfaces and in clypeo-labrum margin than in lateral parts of the body. On dorsal surfaces the larvae show higher density of bristles than in ventral surfaces. In the last sternite there are some fine bristles interspersed with stout bristles (Figs. 2E-F). The larvae also present long bristles situated on the external side of mandibles (Figs. 1A-B, 2A-B). There are some inner jaws bristles, fine but similar to the rest of bristles, that are useful for species identification depending on which teeth they reach (Figs 1B, 2A-B).

Plumose hairs in the genus Myrmeleon are very long and ramified. They are present and abundant on head, thorax and abdomen, especially on dorsal surface (Figs. 1A-E, 2C). These plumose hairs are longer, wider and more ramified dorsally than in ventral surface.

Digging setae are situated in IX sternite. Each rastra bears 4 digging setae, and also one, two or even more rows (M. inconspicuous and M. almohadarum) of digging setae are present in ventral surface on the IX abdominal segment (Figs. 1B, 2E-F). They are strong and wide, but smooth and not very long, and they are not pointed (Figs. 2E-F).

Dolichasters were not found in any species.

There are also other types of sensilla along the body of Myrmeleon larvae. On the head and its parts, they have many of them. Sensilla basiconica are present on the tip of the antenna (Fig. 2A) and on the last palpomere, where there is one group located on the extreme and other group subterminally (Figs. 2A-B). Sensilla coeloconica are very abundant on jaws surface (Fig. 2B), and also in the inner surface of food canal.

On the thorax, many sensilla placodea on pronotum were observed (Fig. 2C), and sensilla trichodea were found between claws of each leg (Fig. 2D).

With regard to abdomen, sensilla coeloconica are presented on the IX sternite (Figs. 2E-F), and also on X abdominal segment (Fig. 2F). Campaniform sensilla also appear on X telescopical abdominal segment, but we could only observe it on Myrmeleon inconspicuus, as this species was the only one in which the X abdominal segment was evaginated.

Discussion

Myrmeleon is the most successful genus in Myrmeleontidae according to the number of species (Pantaleoni et al., 2010Pantaleoni, R.A., Cesaroni, C., Nicoli Aldini, R., 2010. Myrmeleon mariaemathildae n. sp.: a new Mediterranean pit-building antlion (Neuropterida Myrmeleontidae). Bull. Insectol. 63, 91-98.; Badano et al., 2016Badano, D., Acevedo, F., Pantaleoni, R., Monserrat, V.J., 2016. Myrmeleon almohadarum sp. nov., from Spain and North Africa, with description of the larva (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae). Zootaxa 4196 (2), 210-220. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4196.2.2.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4196.2....
; Oswald and Machado, 2018Oswald, J.D., Machado, R.J.P., 2018. Biodiversity of the Neuropterida (Insecta: Neuroptera: Megaloptera, and Raphidioptera). In: Foottit, R.G., Adler, P.H. (Eds.), Insect Biodiversity: Science and Society. Vol. 2. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 627-671. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118945582.ch21
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118945582.ch...
; Oswald., 2022Oswald, J.D., 2022. Neuropterida Species of the World: A catalogue and monograph of the species and subspecies of the extant and extinct Neuroptera, Megaloptera, Raphidioptera, and Glosselytrodea (Insecta: Neuropterida) of the World (Version 6.0). Available in: http://lacewing.tamu.edu/SpeciesCatalog/Main (accessed 11 May 2022).
http://lacewing.tamu.edu/SpeciesCatalog/...
). This is probably due to their larval adaptation in psammophilous habitat and their pitfall traps (Mansell, 1999Mansell, M.W., 1999. Evolution and success of antlions (Neuropterida: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Stapfia 60, 49-58.), so its chaetotaxy must show sophisticated adaptations for this lifestyle.

All species studied are recognizable using external morphological characters such as size, coloration, and distribution and abundance of bristles of the mandible external to maxilla and digging setae (Badano and Pantaleoni, 2014aBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
; Badano et al., 2016Badano, D., Acevedo, F., Pantaleoni, R., Monserrat, V.J., 2016. Myrmeleon almohadarum sp. nov., from Spain and North Africa, with description of the larva (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae). Zootaxa 4196 (2), 210-220. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4196.2.2.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4196.2....
). However, all Iberian Myrmeleon species of this study present the same types and shape of bristles, plumose hairs, digging setae and the rest of sensilla, as we supposed with some previous studies (Lipovšek Delakorda et al., 2009Lipovšek Delakorda, S., Pabst, M.A., Devetak, D., 2009. Morphology of the eyes and sensilla in the antlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). In: Pabst, M.A., Zellnig, G. (Eds.), MC 2009 - Microscopy Conference (Life Sciences), Graz, Austria,Vol. 2. Proceedings. Graz: Verlag der Technischen Universität, pp. 403-404.; Pantaleoni et al., 2010Pantaleoni, R.A., Cesaroni, C., Nicoli Aldini, R., 2010. Myrmeleon mariaemathildae n. sp.: a new Mediterranean pit-building antlion (Neuropterida Myrmeleontidae). Bull. Insectol. 63, 91-98.; Devetak et al., 2010aDevetak, D., Lipovšek, S., Pabst, M.A., 2010a. Morphology and biology of the antlion Myrmeleon yemenicus Hölzel, 2002 (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae). Zootaxa 2531, 48-56.; Ngamo and Maoge, 2014Ngamo, L.S.T., Maoge, J., 2014. Chetae of larva of antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) Hagenomyia tristis (Walker, 1853) and Myrmeleon obscurus (Rambur, 1842) involve in the construction of pitfall traps. J. Biodivers. Environ. Sci. 5, 511-519. ; Acevedo Ramos et al., 2020Acevedo Ramos, F., Monserrat, V.J., Contreras‐Ramos, A., Pérez‐González, S., 2020. Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera). J. Morphol. 281 (10), 1191-1209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240...
). All types of sensilla found on previously studied antlion larvae were observed in Iberian Myrmeleon larvae except digitiform sensilla found in M. formicarius (Lipovšek Delakorda et al., 2009Lipovšek Delakorda, S., Pabst, M.A., Devetak, D., 2009. Morphology of the eyes and sensilla in the antlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). In: Pabst, M.A., Zellnig, G. (Eds.), MC 2009 - Microscopy Conference (Life Sciences), Graz, Austria,Vol. 2. Proceedings. Graz: Verlag der Technischen Universität, pp. 403-404.) and Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Devetak et al., 2013Devetak, D., Klokočovnik, V., Lipovšek, S., Bock, E., Leitinger, G., 2013. Larval morphology of the antlion Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 3641, 491-500. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4.14.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4....
), both species with pit-building behavior. Sensilla basiconica were not observed on X abdominal segment, as were found in Synclisis baetica and Macronemurus appendiculatus (Acevedo Ramos et al., 2020Acevedo Ramos, F., Monserrat, V.J., Contreras‐Ramos, A., Pérez‐González, S., 2020. Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera). J. Morphol. 281 (10), 1191-1209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240...
).

According to their functions, bristles, plumose hairs and digging setae have a mechanosensorial role (Lipovšek Delakorda et al., 2009Lipovšek Delakorda, S., Pabst, M.A., Devetak, D., 2009. Morphology of the eyes and sensilla in the antlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). In: Pabst, M.A., Zellnig, G. (Eds.), MC 2009 - Microscopy Conference (Life Sciences), Graz, Austria,Vol. 2. Proceedings. Graz: Verlag der Technischen Universität, pp. 403-404.; Acevedo Ramos et al., 2020Acevedo Ramos, F., Monserrat, V.J., Contreras‐Ramos, A., Pérez‐González, S., 2020. Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera). J. Morphol. 281 (10), 1191-1209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240...
). Also, bristles (especially those located on head capsule and mandibles) are used to throw away sand during the construction of pitfall traps and to throw it to their preys, plumose hairs are used to retain soil particles in their body in a camouflage role, and digging setae allow to bury themselves (Lipovšek Delakorda et al., 2009Lipovšek Delakorda, S., Pabst, M.A., Devetak, D., 2009. Morphology of the eyes and sensilla in the antlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). In: Pabst, M.A., Zellnig, G. (Eds.), MC 2009 - Microscopy Conference (Life Sciences), Graz, Austria,Vol. 2. Proceedings. Graz: Verlag der Technischen Universität, pp. 403-404.; Devetak et al., 2013Devetak, D., Klokočovnik, V., Lipovšek, S., Bock, E., Leitinger, G., 2013. Larval morphology of the antlion Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 3641, 491-500. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4.14.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4....
; Badano and Pantaleoni, 2014aBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
; Acevedo Ramos et al., 2020Acevedo Ramos, F., Monserrat, V.J., Contreras‐Ramos, A., Pérez‐González, S., 2020. Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera). J. Morphol. 281 (10), 1191-1209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240...
). It is remarkable the absence of dolichasters, as on other genera that construct pitfall traps as Myrmecaelurus or Euroleon (Nicoli Aldini, 2007Nicoli Aldini, R., 2007. Observations on the larval morphology of the antlion Myrmeleon bore (Tjeder, 1941) (Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae) and its life cycle in the Po Valley (northern Italy). Ann. Mus. Civico Stor. Naturale Ferrara 8, 59-66.; Lipovšek Delakorda et al., 2009Lipovšek Delakorda, S., Pabst, M.A., Devetak, D., 2009. Morphology of the eyes and sensilla in the antlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). In: Pabst, M.A., Zellnig, G. (Eds.), MC 2009 - Microscopy Conference (Life Sciences), Graz, Austria,Vol. 2. Proceedings. Graz: Verlag der Technischen Universität, pp. 403-404.; Devetak et al., 2013Devetak, D., Klokočovnik, V., Lipovšek, S., Bock, E., Leitinger, G., 2013. Larval morphology of the antlion Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 3641, 491-500. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4.14.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4....
; Badano and Pantaleoni, 2014aBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
). Dolichasters are an specialized setae typical in Myrmeleontiformia (Badano and Pantaleoni, 2014aBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
, 2014bBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014b. The larvae of European Ascalaphidae (Neuroptera). Zootaxa, 3796, 2, 287-319. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3796.2.4.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3796.2....
) and relatively common in many Myrmeleontidae genera (antlions or owflies on traditional terms) (e.g. Tillyard, 1919Tillyard, R.J., 1919. Studies in Australian Neuroptera. Nº 7 - The life-history of Psychopsis elegans (Guérin). Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. 43, 787-818.; Rousset, 1973Rousset, A., 1973. Morphologie externe et caractères distinctifs des larves de trois espèces d’Ascalaphes [Névroptères, Planipennes]. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 78, 164-178.; Henry, 1976Henry, C.S., 1976. Some aspects of the external morphology of larval owlflies (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae), with particular reference to Ululodes and Ascaloptynx. Psyche (Stuttg.) 83, 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1155/1976/71439.
https://doi.org/10.1155/1976/71439...
, 1978aHenry, C.S., 1978a. An unusual ascalaphid larvae (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae) from southern Africa, with comments on larval evolution within the Myrmeleontoidea. Psyche (Stuttg.) 85, 265-274. https://doi.org/10.1155/1978/19204.
https://doi.org/10.1155/1978/19204...
, 1978bHenry, C.S., 1978b. The egg, repagulum, and larva of Byas albistigma (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae): morphology, behavior and phylogenetic significance. Syst. Entomol. 3, 9-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.1978.tb00384.x.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.1978...
; Stange and Miller, 1990Stange, L.A., Miller, R.B., 1990. Classification of the Myrmeleontidae based on larvae (Insecta: Neuroptera). In: Mansell, M.W., Aspöck, H. (Eds.), Advances in Neuropterology: Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Neuropterology, 1988, Berg en Dal, Kruger National Park, South Africa. Proceedings. Pretoria: South African Department of Agricultural Development, pp. 151-169.; Stange, 2004Stange, L.A., 2004. A systematic catalog, bibliography and classification of the world antlions (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 74, 565.; Badano and Pantaleoni, 2014aBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
, 2014bBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014b. The larvae of European Ascalaphidae (Neuroptera). Zootaxa, 3796, 2, 287-319. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3796.2.4.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3796.2....
; Badano et al., 2017Badano, D., Aspöck, U., Aspöck, H., Cerretti, P.F., 2017. Phylogeny of Myrmeleontiformia based on larval morphology (Neuropterida: neuroptera). Syst. Entomol. 42, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12200.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12200...
; etc.), and they were observed also by SEM in some larvae of Myrmeleontidae as in the antlion species Gymnocnemia variegata and Megistopus flavicornis (Cesaroni et al., 2010Cesaroni, C., Nicoli Aldini, R., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2010. The larvae of Gymnocnemia variegata (Schneider, 1845) and Megistopus flavicornis (Rossi, 1790) (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae): A comparative description. In: Devetak, D., Lipovšek, S., Arnett A.E. (Eds.), 10th International Symposium on Neuropterology, 2008, Piran, Slovenia. Proceedings. Maribor, Slovenia: University of Maribor, pp. 135-144.), Neuroleon microstenus (Devetak et al., 2010bDevetak, D., Lipovšek, S., Pabst, M.A., 2010b. Larval morphology of the antlion Neuroleon microstenus (McLachlan, 1898) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 2428, 55-63.), Solter lederi (Satar et al., 2014aSatar, A., Tusun, S., Aykut, M., 2014a. Morphology and surface structure of third instar larvae of Solter ledereri Navás, 1912 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) from Turkey. Entomol. News 124 (1), 67-72. https://doi.org/10.3157/021.124.0109.
https://doi.org/10.3157/021.124.0109...
), Gepus gibbosus (Satar et al., 2014bSatar, A., Tusun, S., Bozdogan, H., 2014b. Third instars larvae of Gepus gibbosus Hölzel, 1968 (Neuroptera: myrmeleontindae). Zootaxa 3793 (2), 281-285. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3793.2.8.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3793.2....
), Nemoleon notatus and Tricholeon relictus (Badano et al., 2017Badano, D., Aspöck, U., Aspöck, H., Cerretti, P.F., 2017. Phylogeny of Myrmeleontiformia based on larval morphology (Neuropterida: neuroptera). Syst. Entomol. 42, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12200.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12200...
), Cueta lineosa (Tusun, 2020Tusun, S., 2020. Morphology, Surface Structure and Sensory Receptors of Larvae of Cueta lineosa (Rambur 1842) (Neuroptera: myrmeleontidae). Pak. J. Zool. 52 (1), 331-335.), etc., or in owlflies species as Deleprotophylla australis and Puer maculatus (Badano et al., 2017Badano, D., Aspöck, U., Aspöck, H., Cerretti, P.F., 2017. Phylogeny of Myrmeleontiformia based on larval morphology (Neuropterida: neuroptera). Syst. Entomol. 42, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12200.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12200...
). The only genus with pit-building behavior in which this kind of setae have been found is Cueta of tribe Nesoleontini, according to Tusun (2020)Tusun, S., 2020. Morphology, Surface Structure and Sensory Receptors of Larvae of Cueta lineosa (Rambur 1842) (Neuroptera: myrmeleontidae). Pak. J. Zool. 52 (1), 331-335.. So it is interesting that at least the majority of genera that are able to construct these traps lack this kind of setae.

According to the rest of sensilla, we found sensilla basiconica on antennae and last palpomere (two groups) that take a chemoreceptor and olfative role, sensilla coeloconica in a great density on the surface of mandible and maxillae and in the inner of food canal with the same chemoreceptor functions, as well as sensilla placodea on pronotum (Koch, 1983Koch, M., 1983. Zur Ernährungsphysiologie des Ameisenlöwen Euroleon nostras Fourcr. Inaugural-Dissertation, Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Bonn.; Zacharuk, 1985Zacharuk, R.Y., 1985. Antennae and sensilla. In: Kerkut, G.A., Gilbert L.I. (Eds.), Comprehensive Insect Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp. 1-69.; Zacharuk and Shields, 1991Zacharuk, R.Y., Shields, V.D., 1991. Sensilla of immature insects. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 36, 331-354.; Römer, 2003Römer, H., 2003. Mechanorezeption. In: Dettner, K., Petters, W. (Eds.), Lehrbuch der Entomologie. Spektrum Akademischer, Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin, Germany, pp. 281-298.; Devetak et al., 2013Devetak, D., Klokočovnik, V., Lipovšek, S., Bock, E., Leitinger, G., 2013. Larval morphology of the antlion Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 3641, 491-500. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4.14.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4....
; Acevedo Ramos et al., 2020Acevedo Ramos, F., Monserrat, V.J., Contreras‐Ramos, A., Pérez‐González, S., 2020. Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera). J. Morphol. 281 (10), 1191-1209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240...
). All of them are probably related with detection of preys (Zacharuk, 1985Zacharuk, R.Y., 1985. Antennae and sensilla. In: Kerkut, G.A., Gilbert L.I. (Eds.), Comprehensive Insect Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp. 1-69.; Devetak et al., 2013Devetak, D., Klokočovnik, V., Lipovšek, S., Bock, E., Leitinger, G., 2013. Larval morphology of the antlion Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 3641, 491-500. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4.14.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4....
; Acevedo Ramos et al., 2020Acevedo Ramos, F., Monserrat, V.J., Contreras‐Ramos, A., Pérez‐González, S., 2020. Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera). J. Morphol. 281 (10), 1191-1209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240...
). Sensilla trichodea situated between tarsal claws have mechanosensorial functions in order to detect vibrations in the substrate (Doflein, 1916Doflein, F., 1916. Der Ameisenlöwe: Eine Biologische, Tierpsychologische und Reflexbiologische Untersuchung. G. Fischer Verlag, Jena, 138 pp.; Devetak et al., 2013Devetak, D., Klokočovnik, V., Lipovšek, S., Bock, E., Leitinger, G., 2013. Larval morphology of the antlion Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 3641, 491-500. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4.14.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4....
; Acevedo Ramos et al., 2020Acevedo Ramos, F., Monserrat, V.J., Contreras‐Ramos, A., Pérez‐González, S., 2020. Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera). J. Morphol. 281 (10), 1191-1209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240...
). Finally, sensilla coeloconica (chemoreceptor) and campaniform sensilla (mechanoreceptor) take a role in the excavation control and detection of an optimal substrate for construction of pitfall traps (Devetak et al., 2010bDevetak, D., Lipovšek, S., Pabst, M.A., 2010b. Larval morphology of the antlion Neuroleon microstenus (McLachlan, 1898) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 2428, 55-63., 2013Devetak, D., Klokočovnik, V., Lipovšek, S., Bock, E., Leitinger, G., 2013. Larval morphology of the antlion Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology. Zootaxa 3641, 491-500. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4.14.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3641.4....
; Ramos et al., 2020). A detailed study of this topic using many psammophilous antlion species was published by Acevedo Ramos et al. (2020)Acevedo Ramos, F., Monserrat, V.J., Contreras‐Ramos, A., Pérez‐González, S., 2020. Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera). J. Morphol. 281 (10), 1191-1209. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21240...
.

Similarities in some characters in groups with pit-building behavior (Myrmeleontini, Myrmecaelurini and Nesoleontini) were remarked by Badano and Pantaleoni (2014a)Badano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
, but they also observed that these tribes show enough differences especially on digging setae structures to suggest that this behavior evolved probably more than once in antlions. The phylogeny of the group published by Machado et al. (2019)Machado, R.J.P., Gillung, J.P., Winterton, S.L., Garzón-Orduña, I.J., Lemmon, A.R., Lemmon, E.M., Oswald, J.D., 2019. Owlflies are derived antlions: anchored phylogenomics supports a new phylogeny and classification of Myrmeleontidae (Neuroptera). Syst. Entomol. 44, 418-450. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12334.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12334...
corroborates this hypothesis. The chaetotaxy of Myrmeleontidae larvae is a great tool not only for phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships within the groups (Badano and Pantaleoni, 2014aBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014a. The larvae of European Myrmeleontidae. Zootaxa 3762, 1-71. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1.1.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3762.1....
, 2014bBadano, D., Pantaleoni, R.A., 2014b. The larvae of European Ascalaphidae (Neuroptera). Zootaxa, 3796, 2, 287-319. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3796.2.4.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3796.2....
; Badano et al., 2017Badano, D., Aspöck, U., Aspöck, H., Cerretti, P.F., 2017. Phylogeny of Myrmeleontiformia based on larval morphology (Neuropterida: neuroptera). Syst. Entomol. 42, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12200.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12200...
) but also for understanding the evolution of larval ecology in this family. On the other hand, the pit-building behavior is clearly a highly successful strategy not only in this family but in the order Neuroptera.

Conclusions

This comparative study on Myrmeleon larvae has shown that chaetotaxy is similar between the species investigated. Bristles and plumose hairs do not show differences in shape between Myrmeleon species, so they seem characteristic of the genus. They are also similar to other pit-fall trap builders studied species, suggesting that this type of chaetotaxy could be adaptative for this specialized strategy. All types of bristles described and reported on antlion larvae were found in Iberian Myrmeleon species, except dolichasters, as with the rest of pit-fall trap builders species studied by SEM. The rest of sensilla reported on larvae of this family are present on Myrmeleon Iberian species, except digitiform sensilla.

Acknowledgments

We thank Ana M. Vicente of the Centro Nacional de Microscopía Electrónica-Universidad Complutense de Madrid (CNME-UCM) for her support and help during this study.

References

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Edited by

Associate Editor: Renato Jose Machado

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    28 Nov 2022
  • Date of issue
    2022

History

  • Received
    12 Aug 2022
  • Accepted
    17 Oct 2022
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