Lacewing larva - Meleoma

Seems to key to M. dolicharthra

In Tauber's key(1), 2nd and third instars begin at node 9. M. emuncta keys out at node 18 (16a, 17b) while M. dolicharthra keys out at node 20a (16b, 19b) and 23a (20b, 21b, 22b). The two split at node 16, where M. emuncta have all thoracic setae pale and M. dolicharthra have at least some thoracic setae dark. So combining Dr. Tauber's response with her thesis, these should seemingly end up being M. dolicharthra.

Running through her key manually without her notes, I can cleanly arrive at node 16 where the split occurs. Then I fairly readily arrive at node 20 (where M. dolicharthra 2nd and 3rd instars split). At this point, I'm not able to distinguish any of the given traits, though there are only 3 species remaining at this point (of which only M. dolicharthra and M. kennethi are reported in California; M. hageni isn't and appears to be excluded by facial markings). Double-checking her entry for M. kennethi, that species should be fairly restricted around the southern CA-NV border (Mono, Inyo, & Clark counties).

… Jonathan Hoskins, 1 December, 2022 - 4:07pm

Thanks -

so much for taking a look at this one, Jonathan. Feel free to move the images as you see fit and let me know if you need more images - I think that I still have this specimen in ethanol somewhere, unless it liquified after it died in captivity...

… Ken Schneider, 1 December, 2022 - 9:57pm

Moved

Moved from Unidentified Debris-Carrying Larvae.

C. Tauber was kind enough to look at these images and commented as follows via email:
"Your specimen looks like a Meleoma species – either M. dolicarthra or M. emuncta. I would have to pull out my old thesis to ID to species".

… Ken Schneider, 19 September, 2021 - 5:28pm

Moved

Moved from Green Lacewings.

… Jonathan Hoskins, 14 September, 2021 - 10:05pm

Thanks -

Jonathan - so... not possible to key these to genus with the specimen in hand? This was collected. Thanks!

… Ken Schneider, 14 September, 2021 - 10:17pm

Re: genus

I'm not aware of a key to western larvae at this point (or even keys to the larvae of several genera). But the more elongate setae and scolus length should be good starting points. Facial markings are well visible, so it may be worth passing on to Dr. Catherine (Kady) Tauber.

… Jonathan Hoskins, 14 September, 2021 - 10:49pm