Taxonomic notes on owlflies from Pakistan (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Ascalaphinae)

Abstract

Taxonomic notes are presented on the former Ascalaphidae (owlflies), now subfamily Ascalaphinae of the family Myrmeleontidae from Pakistan. An updated checklist of new records is provided that accounts for all known 15 genera and 22 species from Pakistan, excluding the species of the tribe Palparini. Geographical distribution maps and an updated identification key to all known genera and species from Pakistan are also given. We synonymized two monotypic genera, Horischema Mészáros & Ábrahám, 2003 and Perissoschema Mészáros & Ábrahám, 2003 both as junior synonyms of Ogcogaster Westwood, 1847 based on very similar male genitalia and external morphological characters. Moreover, Perissoschema evae Mészáros & Ábrahám, 2003 is treated as a junior synonym of Ogcogaster segmentator Westwood, 1847. We recorded three genera for the first time from Pakistan, i.e., Acheron Lefèbvre, 1842, Glyptobasis McLachlan, 1873, and Suphalomitus van der Weele, 1909. To more completely resolve the generic or specific status of those poorly known species from Pakistan, broader sampling throughout the country is needed.

Taxonomic notes on the antlion tribe Myrmeleontini Latreille (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae, Myrmeleontinae) from Pakistan, with description of a new species

“…With respect to the distribution of antlions in Pakistan, our results corroborate the mixed fauna from the Oriental and Palaearctic regions in the northern parts of Pakistan (Fig.20) due to the unique geographical position -the extreme edge of western Himalayas and the junction point of the world's two largest zoogeographical regions: the Oriental and the Palaearctic. The present diversity and distribution of antlions in Pakistan is consistent with our recent studies on the subfamily Ascalaphinae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) and the following genera of Myrmeleontidae and Megaloptera from northern Pakistan: DistoleonBanks, 1910 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), Nevromus Rambur, 1842 and Protohermes van der Weele, 1907 (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)(Hassan et al 2019(Hassan et al , 2020a(Hassan et al , 2020bHassan & Liu 2021).…”

New Distributional Record of <i>Idricerus decreptius</i> (Myrmeleontidae, Neuroptera) from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan

“…The photographs were taken using the Xiaomi Mi A3 mobile camera (Xiaomi Communications Ltd., China). The specimens were then pinned, and photographs from multiple angles were taken while the identification of I. decrepitus was confirmed by (Hassan and Liu, 2021). Photographs of the adult habitus were taken with the Xiaomi Mi A3 mobile camera assisted by a macro lens.…”

“…( Machado et al, 2019). Various researchers have revised this family in a series of publication from Pakistan (Hassan et al, 2019;Hassan and Liu, 2021;Hassan et al, 2023). Idricerus is a genus of tribe Haplogleniini in the subfamily Ascalphinae (Hassan and Liu, 2021).…”

“…Various researchers have revised this family in a series of publication from Pakistan (Hassan et al, 2019;Hassan and Liu, 2021;Hassan et al, 2023). Idricerus is a genus of tribe Haplogleniini in the subfamily Ascalphinae (Hassan and Liu, 2021). At present, there are five described species within the genus Idricerus, and these species are distributed across both the Palearctic and Oriental regions (Machado et al, 2019).…”

Insights on the evolution of Ululodini (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Ascalaphinae), focusing on the systematics of the genus Ascalorphne Banks, 1915

“…In addition to the observations in this work, Henry's (1978b) illustration of details of the head of an Ululodini (setae visible) and an Ascalaphini (not visible) reinforce the view of this character as a synapomorphy of Ululodini. In fact, apparently no Oriental (Hassan and Liu, 2021) or Palearctic (clearly absent in Libelloides, for example) genus has this feature, which possibly appeared only in Ululodini (except A. furcata).…”