Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771)

Khudhur, Farhad A. & Ábrahám, Levente, 2025, A report on the lacewing fauna of Iraqi Kurdistan (Neuroptera: Mantispidae, Nemopteridae, Myrmeleontidae, Ascalaphidae), Zootaxa 5665 (2), pp. 223-238 : 228

Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771)

( Fig. 4A )

Myrmecaelurus trigrammus (Pallas, 1771) : 469 (Odescr), Aspöck et al. 2001: 203 (Mon), Stange 2004: 275 (Mon).

Material examined: 1♂ IRAQ, Erbil, Choman, Gali Sakran , 36°35’29,6”N, 44°54’43.5”E, 30.VII.2024 leg: Farhad A. Khudhur & Aland Nwab ; 1♀ IRAQ, Erbil, Choman, Halgurd Mt. , 5 km NW Nawanda Village, 36°42’38,6”N, 44°52’12.5”E, 31.VII.2024 leg: Farhad A. Khudhur & Aland Nwab .

Remarks: The distribution of this species extends from the Atlantic Ocean to central Asia ( Kyrgyzstan, Krivokhatsky et al. 2015), and its southern distributional limit is in the Mediterranean areas of Europe and the Middle East ( Israel). It is also widespread and sometimes common in the xeromontane area of Asia ( Turkey, Iran, and Iraq). Its distribution in Egypt ( El Hamouly & Fadl 2011), India (Wachkoo et. al. 2024), and Tunisia ( Stange 2004) are uncertain.

The forewing venation is uniformly pale yellow or perhaps with short sections of alternating yellow and pale brown on the subcosta at the origin of the cross-veins. A similar species in the region is Myrmecaelurus solaris Krivokhatsky, 2002 ( Fig. 4C ). This species is slightly larger than M. trigrammus . In addition, M. trigrammus always has three clearly visible longitudinal black bands on the pronotum ( Fig. 4B ) and the membrane of the wings is entirely transparent, while M. solaris usually has one pale brown distinct band medially ( Fig. 4D ), and the wing membrane is yellowish. Although not collected during this study, M. solaris also may occur in Iraq.

Figures

FIGURE 4.A—Habitus of Myrmecaelurus trigrammus, B—Head and pronotum in dorsal view; C—Habitus of Myrmecaelurus solaris, D—Head and pronotum in dorsal view; E—Habitus of Cueta anomala, F—Head in frontal view, G—Tergal segments 2-4 in lateral view; H—Habitus of Cueta lineosa, I—Tergal segments 2-4 in lateral view, J—Head in frontal view; K—Type of Cueta anomala in dorsal view with labels (Photo: Bruno Michel); L—Habitus of Cueta minervae, M—Pronotum pattern in dorsal view. Abbreviations: ra—reghma area, Cua2—Cubitus anterior 2, Cup+A1—Cubitus posterior + Anal vein 1, (Scale bar: 10 mm)