New Findings on Antlions (Neu.: Myrmeleontidae) from Iran

Subject Areas : entomology and othea arthropods

A.  Hajiesmaeilian ¹ (Azad University of Arak/Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection)
r.  vafaie ² (دانشگاه آزاد اراک)
F.  Mozaffarian ³ (Insect Taxonomy Research Department, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, P.O. Box 1454, 19395 Tehran, Iran)
E.  Ebrahimi ⁴ (Insect Taxonomy Research Department, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, P.O. Box 1454, 19395 Tehran, Iran)

Received: 2018-12-12 Accepted : 2019-01-27 Published : 2019-02-20

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Abstract :

Antlions are insects belonging to the order Neuroptera, Suborder Myrmeleontiformia and Family Myrmeleontidae, with about 2000 species, they often known for the specific predatory habits of the larvae who use to dig pits as traps for hunting ants and small arthropods passing by. The adult antlions are less known, and maybe mistakenly identified by non-specialist as dragonflies or damselflies. They have a worldwide distribution, and fly at dusk or after dark. The members of family have very different sizes, e.g. genera Palpares and Acanthaclisis are the largest and Geyria and Delfimeus are the smallest Iranian antlions according to the length of their fore wings. In order to study fauna of Myrmeleontidae in Iran, antlions of Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum were examined, and seven species Creoleon parallelus, Nicarinus poecilopterus, Pseudoformicaleo gracilis, Distoleon tetragrammicus, Megistopus flavicornis, Cueta striata and Afghanoleon flavomaculatus were identified. The first species reported here for the first time from the country and other species are considered as rare species which were not collected from Iran since 1972. The photos of habitus and genitalia of the species and their distribution maps are provided.