Neuroptera of the Amazon Basin. Part 3 Ascalaphidae

Abstract

The nineteen species of the family Ascalaphidae occurring in the Amazon Basin are described, and keys are given for their separation. Three new species are included.

A new genus of Mantispidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) from the Eocene of Germany, with a review of the fossil record and palaeobiogeography of the family

“…However, the mantispine subfamily affinity is most likely because: (a) a similar structure of the pterostigma is found in extant species of Climaciella (Mantispinae) (e.g. Climaciella amapaensis Penny, 1982b: fig. 46); (b) three r‐rs occur in most Mantispinae; (c) although the basal part of the forewing of V. relicta is poorly preserved, it is obvious that M is fused with R for a quite considerable distance; (d) such a long intramedian cell occurs in some Mantispinae [e.g.…”

New genera records of split-eyed owlflies (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Ascalaphinae) from Colombia

“…The genus has not been never reported in Colombia, but most of the species are known from neighboring countries. Species identification can be made with certain reliability following the works of Van der Weele (1909) and Penny (1981b). Heckman (2017) proposed a taxonomic key based on the works of Penny (1981aPenny ( , b, 2002 and on the original descriptions and keys of Navás (1912aNavás ( , 1919Navás ( , 1932.…”

“…The group includes 10 species and one subspecies (Table 1), which in general are easily distinguished by a trianguloid shape of the hind wing often with distinct dark maculation (Penny, 1981a). Species of this genus may be identified following the keys of Penny (1981bPenny ( , 2002 and Heckman (2017), and the monograph of Van der Weele (1909). Some species are likely mimics of vespid wasps, due to the shape and dashed color pattern of the abdomen (Henry, 1977).…”

“…The major taxonomic studies for this region are those of Van der Weele (1909), Navás (1912a, b), and Penny (1981aPenny ( , b, 2002 but in general, genital characters and details of the external morphology are not available. Some taxonomic keys are based mainly in coloration characters, making the taxonomic identification unreliable (Navás, 1912a, b;Penny, 1981bPenny, , 2002. Of the Neotropical owlflies, the species richness is concentrated in the tribe Ululodini, a group endemic to the Americas (Table 1).…”

Revision of the Australian Ascalaphidae (Insecta : Neuroptera)

“…The family Ascalaphidae, sometimes referred to as 'owl flies', are large, fastflying, myrmeleontoid Neuroptera. Although some brightly coloured European species are diurnal predators (and have been likened to dragonflies in their general appearance), others, such as the Amazonian species (Penny 1981) and apparently most of the Australian taxa, are crepuscular. Taxonomically, the family is one of the most intractable in the Neuroptera, and there has been no recent attempt to monograph the world's species.…”