Epacanthaclisis longwai Zheng, Hayashi & Liu, 2025

Zheng, Yuchen, Badano, Davide, Aspöck, Ulrike, Aspöck, Horst, Hayashi, Fumio & Liu, Xingyue, 2025, Revision of the antlion genus Epacanthaclisis Okamoto, 1910 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Dendroleontinae), Zootaxa 5657 (1), pp. 1-100 : 74-75

Epacanthaclisis longwai Zheng, Hayashi & Liu sp. nov.

( Figs. 2P , 39H , 44 , 49B )

Diagnosis. Adult: Vertex anteriorly with three black spots fused with a medial transversal black band, posteriorly with three transversal spots, the middle one fused with the medial band. Pronotum pale brown, medially with a pair of adjacent longitudinal dark brown stripes; laterally with a pair of oblique long dark lines; lateral margin black. Fore and mid tibial spurs reaching tip of tarsomere 4. Wings infuscate. Male abdominal terga 3–4 mostly brown, each anteriorly pale yellowish-brown with a pair of indistinct longitudinal short brownish spots; tergum 5 mostly brown, anteriorly with a pair of pale yellowish-brown spots, anteromedial margin with a pair of tufts of bristles. Male internal gonocoxites 9 nearly wide trapezoid in cephalic view; ectoproct expanded.

Description of adult. Size. Head width: 2.34–2.44 mm; forewing length: 31.65–32.65 mm; hindwing length: 32.56–33.33 mm.

Head. Vertex anteriorly with three black spots fused with a medial transversal black band; posteriorly with three transversal spots, the middle one fused with the medial band. Dark brown marking around scape ( Fig. 44C ). Scape pale brown, with a dark brown marking; pedicel pale brown; flagellum mostly pale yellowish-brown on basal part and gradually darken distally, non-swollen flagellomeres each with a dark circular marking, swollen flagellum mostly dark brown. Frons generally pale yellowish-brown ( Fig. 44B ). Clypeus pale yellowish-brown with a few setae. Labrum brown. Maxillary palpus generally pale yellowish-brown. Labial palpus pale yellowish-brown, distal segment fusiform and brown. Mandibles yellowish-brown with distal half dark reddish brown.

Thorax. Pale brown and dark brown. Pronotum pale brown, medially with a pair of adjacent longitudinal dark brown stripes; laterally with a pair of oblique long dark lines; lateral margin black; laterally covered with long pale and dark setae. Mesoprescutum generally black with a pair of lateral pale brown spots and a medial short pale brown line; mesonotum generally dark brown, laterally with a pair of pale brown markings, a pair of longitudinal dark brown lines present on the pale brown markings; mesoscutellum generally pale yellowish-brown, anterolaterally with a pair of subtriangular black markings, lateral margin black. Metanotum dark brown and pale brown; metascutellum medially pale brown, laterally black ( Fig. 44C ). Pleurae dark brown and pale brown.

Legs. Covered with many pale and dark setae. All coxae pale yellowish-brown each with an indistinct dark spot; tibial spurs brown, barely curved; tarsomeres 2–4 generally dark brown; tarsomere 5 basally pale yellow, distally black, as long as entire length of tarsomeres 1–4; pretarsal claws slightly curved, protruded basally. Foreleg: Femur pale yellowish-brown, dorsally with a longitudinal dark brown stripe; tibia pale yellowish-brown, mediobasally and distally each with a dark brown marking; tibial spur reaching tip of tarsomere 4. Midleg: Femur pale yellowish-brown, distally with a dark brown marking; tibia pale yellowish-brown, mediobasally and distally each with a dark brown marking; tibial spur reaching tip of tarsomere 4. Hind leg: Femur pale yellowish-brown, distally with a dark brown marking; tibia mostly pale yellowish-brown, mediobasally with an indistinct dark brown spot and distally dark brown; tibial spur reaching tip of tarsomere 3; tarsomere 1 longer than that of fore- and midleg ( Fig. 44A ).

Wings. Infuscate, with some markings. Hindwing slightly longer than forewing. Pterostigma pale. Forewing costal space with a dark brown marking proximad pterostigma; rhegma various, as an oblique dark brown stripe, sometimes curved; cubital area basally with an short oblique dark brown stripe; posterior margin with many scattered dots; costal, distal half of prefork and basal half of posterior crossveins mostly connected by oblique veinlets; five to six presectoral crossveins present, distal presectoral cells biloculate; RP with nine branches; RP origin basal to MP fork, nearly align at CuA fork. Hindwing rhegma indistinct; posterior margin with many scattered dots; two presectoral crossveins present ( Figs. 39H , 44A ).

Abdomen. Male terga 1–2 generally dark brown; terga 3–4 mostly brown, each anteriorly pale yellowish-brown with a pair of indistinct longitudinal short brownish spots; tergum 5 mostly brown, anteriorly with a pair of pale yellowish-brown spots, anteromedial margin with a pair of tufts of bristles, anteromedial margin with a pair of tufts of bristles; terga 6–8 pale yellow and brown ( Figs. 2P , 49B ). Male genitalia. Sternum 9 wide, nearly bell-shaped, constricted on distal part, distal part covered with long setae ( Fig. 44E ). External gonocoxites 9 strongly sclerotized externally, encased internal gonocoxites 9; external gonocoxites 9 externally rounded in ventral view, subtriangular in cephalic and lateral view; internal gonocoxites 9 nearly wide trapezoid, external margin rounded in cephalic view. Gonocoxites 11 widely triangular in caudal view; gonapophyses 11 tiny, U-shaped in ventral view ( Figs. 44F–J ). Ectoproct nearly long rectangular in dorsal view, boot-like in lateral view, expanded and rounded on distal margin, distal part covered with many curved stout setae ( Figs. 44D–E ). Female genitalia. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA: Anhui, Luan, Jinzhai County [aeḁ县], Nanxi Town [南âḍ], Mazongling Forestry Farm [Ḷḙńṳ场], Heshangping [和尚坪], 680 m, 15.VIII.2018, Yuchen Zheng ( IZCAS) . Paratype ♂, same information as holotype ( CAU) .

Distribution. China (Anhui).

Etymology. This new species was collected by the first author during his undergraduate fieldwork in entomology class, under the supervision of his undergraduate entomology teacher Dr. Longwa Zhang (张Īö). In recognition of the guidance and assistance provided by Dr. Zhang during the first author’s undergraduate studies, we named this new species in his honor.

Remarks. This new species is closely related to E. ningshana , but it can be distinguished from the latter by the vertex anteriorly with three black spots fused with a medial transversal black band, the wings infuscate, the male abdominal terga 3–4 mostly brown, the male external gonocoxites 9 with less strongly sclerotized, the external margin of male external gonocoxites 9 rounded in ventral view, and the male ectoproct distinct expand on distal margin. In E. ningshana , the vertex medial transversal black band is indistinct and discontinuous, the wings are generally hyaline, the male abdominal tergum 3 is generally pale yellowish-brown and has two pair of brown markings, the male external gonocoxites 9 have more strongly sclerotized, the external margin of male external gonocoxites 9 are relatively angular in ventral view, and the male ectoproct not expand on distal margin. Besides, there is a geographical isolation between these two species: E. longwai sp. nov. is distributed only in the Dabie mountain ranges, and E. ningshana is distributed in the Qingling and Taihangshan mountain ranges.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Male abdomens of Epacanthaclisis spp., dorsal view. The E. continentalis group: A. E. continentalis Esben- Petersen, 1935, Khinjan (Afghanistan); B. E. darman Zheng, Badano, U. Aspöck, H. Aspöck & Liu sp. nov., Gyirong (Xizang, China); C. E. hamata Krivokhatsky, 1998, Talas (Kyrgyzstan); D. E. liuyingqiae Zheng, Badano, U. Aspöck, H. Aspöck & Liu sp. nov., Medog (Xizang, China); E. E. victor Badano, Zheng & Liu sp. nov., Zhentang (Xizang, China); F. E. zhiweii Zheng, Badano, U. Aspöck, H. Aspöck & Liu sp. nov., Tsizhong (Yunnan, China); G. E. zuqii Zheng, Badano, U. Aspöck, H. Aspöck & Liu sp. nov., Pianma (Yunnan, China); The E. tuyuezhengi group: H. E. tuyuezhengi Zheng & Liu sp. nov., Yajiang (Sichuan, China); I. E. zhihaoi Zheng & Liu sp. nov., Weixi (Yunnan, China); The E. maculosa group: J. E. jiazhii Zheng, U. Aspöck, H. Aspöck, Hayashi & Liu sp. nov., Baoshan (Yunnan, China); K. E. maculosa (Yang, 1986), Baoshan (Yunnan, China); L. E. minana (Yang, 1999), Dehua (Fujian, China); M. E. minana, Lu-An (Anhui, China); N. E. xiaohongae Zheng & Liu sp. nov., Pianma (Yunnan, China); The E. moiwana group: O. E. banksi Krivokhatsky, 1998, Wenxian (Gansu, China); P. E. longwai Zheng, Hayashi & Liu sp. nov., Lu-An (Anhui, China); Q. E. moiwana (Okamoto, 1905), Yatsushiro (Japan); R. E. ningshana Wan & Wang, 2010, Beijing (China).

FIGURE 39. Habitus of the Epacanthaclisis moiwana group. A. E. banksi Krivokhatsky, 1998, male, Wenxian (Gansu); B. E. banksi, female, Wenxian (Gansu); C. E. moiwana (Okamoto, 1905), male, Yatsushiro (Japan); D. E. moiwana, female, Japan. E. E. ningshana Wan & Wang, 2010, male, Linfen (Shanxi); F. E. ningshana, female, Linfen (Shanxi); G. E. ningshana, holotype male, Ningshan (Shaanxi); H. E. longwai Zheng, Hayashi & Liu sp. nov., holotype male, Lu-An (Anhui).

FIGURE 44. Epacanthaclisis longwai Zheng, Hayashi & Liu sp. nov., adult, Lu-An (Anhui, China). A. Habitus; B. head, frontal view; C. head and thorax, dorsal view; male terminalia: D. lateral view; E. ventral view; male genitalia: F. ventral view; G. dorsal view; H. lateral view; I. cephalic view; J. caudal view.

FIGURE 49. The Epacanthaclisis moiwana group, male abdominal terga 4–5, dorsal view. A. E. banksi Krivokhatsky, 1998, Wenxian (Gansu, China); B. E. longwai Zheng, Hayashi & Liu sp. nov., Lu-An (Anhui, China); C. E. moiwana (Okamoto, 1905), Yatsushiro (Japan); D. E. ningshana Wan & Wang, 2010, Beijing (China).