Larval morphology of the antlion <i>Myrmecaelurus trigrammus</i> (Pallas, 1771) (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae), with notes on larval biology

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 characteristic 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. On the tip of the antennae and on terminal and subterminal parts of labial palps sensilla basiconica occur. On the 9th abdominal segment there are two bulges, each of them bearing four digging bristles. Non-prominent eye tubercles and numerous mandibular bristles are morphological traits of pit-builders. Most of the behavioural traits are related to pit builders, whereas forward movement, waiting for prey without a pit and frequent changing of ambush location are traits of non-pit builders.

Comparative study of sensilla and other tegumentary structures of Myrmeleontidae larvae (Insecta, Neuroptera)

“…(g) apex of abdomen of Synclisis baetica, ventral view. odp, odontoid process; p3, metathoracic leg; scam, campaniform sensilum; sco, sensilla coeloconicum; str1, type I sensilla trichodea; str2, type II sensilla trichodea; SX, abdominal segment X already been described for nearly all the larvae studied with SEM (Satar et al, 2006Lipovšek Delakorda et al, 2009;Devetak et al, 2010aDevetak et al, , 2010bDevetak et al, , 2013Tusun, 2020). While, sensilla coeloconica has been also registered in the maxillae of Cueta lineosa (Tusun, 2020), we provide evidence of their presence in all the studied taxa.…”

“…The following SEM protocol was implemented according to Devetak et al (2010aDevetak et al ( , 2010bDevetak et al ( , 2013. The specimens were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS 0.1 mol/L solution (with 7-7.1 pH) for 24 hr at room temperature.…”

Preference of antlion and wormlion larvae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae; Diptera: Vermileonidae) for substrates according to substrate particle sizes

“…Antlion larvae together with the substrate samples were collected during spring and summer months (from May to August), with an exception of Myrmeleon yemenicus larvae which were collected at the end of November (for details of its habitat -see Devetak et al, 2010). The majority of the larvae were reared to adults.…”

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

“…Later Hölzel (1974) described the larva of this species mistaking it with Myrmeleon gerlindae. Recently the larva of this species was exhaustively treated (Willmann 1977;Popov 1984;Gepp 2010;Krivokhatsky 2011;Devetak et al 2013).…”