The cave mouth antlions of Australia (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)

Abstract. Larvae of thirty one species of antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) belonging to eleven genera live in the protection of cave mouths or large rock overhangs in Australia. New taxa proposed here include the following three new genera: Australeon, Newleon, Speleon. The following twelve new species are described: Froggattisca kakadu; Froggattisca rennerensis; Newleon fragilis; Speleon cavernicolus; Speleon pilliga; Speleon yallingup; Stenoleon xanthopsis; Xantholeon cavernicolus; Xantholeon kakadu; Xantholeon newi; Xantholeon pallens; Xantholeon pentlandensis. Two cave species are transferred into a new genus becoming new combinations: Australeon illustris (Gerstaecker), Australeon manselli (New and Matsura). The small non-cave species previously placed in Stenoleon Tillyard are transferred to Bandidus Navás, becoming B. gradostriatus (New), B. copleyensis (New), B. grandithecus (New), and B. navasi (New), new combinations. All known species of six genera (Stenoleon Tillyard, Xantholeon Tillyard, Eophanes Banks and three new genera) are known only in cave mouths. Also, species of Heoclisis Navás, Froggattisca Esben Petersen, Glenoleon Banks, Heoclisis Navás and Myrmeleon Linnaeus contain species living in cave mouths. Two main types of caves are found in Australia; those with loose organic material and those with loose inorganic material. The cave habitat is divided into four zones and several subzones. Many species are restricted to one zone or another but species of Stenoleon may overlap zones. Discussions of the species and some of their biological requirements are provided. One new parasite record is given, an undetermined species of Echthrobacella Girault (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) reared from the larvae of Speleon yallingup Miller and Stange. Diagnoses or descriptions are given for all of these cave species including distributional data. Keys to the cave mouth inhabiting antlions of Australia (adults and larvae) are provided including a revised key to the Xantholeon Tillyard. Resumen. Se documentan treinta uno especies en once géneros de Myrmeleontidae que viven en las entradas de cuevas en Australia y representan mas especies que en cualquier otra parte del mundo. Se describen tres genéros nuevos, Australeon, Newleon, y Speleon y doce especies nuevas: Froggattisca kakadu; Froggattisca rennerensis; Newleon fragilis; Speleon cavernicolus; Speleon pilliga; Speleon yallingup; Stenoleon xanthopsis; Xantholeon cavernicolus; Xantholeon kakadu; Xantholeon newi; Xantholeon pallens y Xantholeon pentlandensis. Dos especies son transferidas en un nueva género resultando en dos combinaciones nuevas: Australeon illustris (Gerstaecker) y Australeon manselli (New and Matsura). Tambien, cuatro especies en el género Stenoleon Tillyard son transferidas al género Bandidus Navas, resultando en cuatro combinaciones nuevas: B. gradostriatus (New), B. copleyensis (New), B. grandithecus (New) y B. navasi (New). Hay dos tipos de cuevas en Australia, unas con detritus orgánicos y otras con detritus principalmente inorgánicas. En algunas cuevas existen cuatro principales zonas de habitación. Todas las especies de cinco géneros (Eophanes Banks, Stenoleon Tillyard, Xantholeon Banks y tres nuevos géneros) están restringidas a las cuevas. Se da un registro nuevo para un parásito, Echthrobacella Girault (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) criada de Speleon yallingup Miller and Stange. Se presentan diagnoses o descripciones para todas las especies incluyendo datos sobre distribucion. Se presentan claves para los adultos y larvas de las especies que viven dentro de las cuevas en Australia, incyudendo una clave revisada del genero Xantholeon. Note: Download button links to reduced-size version (19 Mb). Full-size version (118 Mb) is attached below as related file