Neuroptera of the Amazon BasinPart 6. Mantispidae

Mantidflies (Neuroptera, Mantispidae) from Tocantins state (Brazil): distribution and identification key

“…Specimens were identified using taxonomic keys, diagnosis, original descriptions, redescriptions, and illustrations from Penny (1982), Penny and Costa (1983), and Machado and Rafael (2010). A stereomicroscope (MOTIC SMZ-168) was used to identifty the species.…”

“…These materials were mostly obtained from field collections not particularly focused on the family. Major inventories of Brazilian Mantispidae are Penny (1982), Penny and Costa (1983), and Machado and Rafael (2010), with Penny (1982) focusing on the Amazon region while the other publications covered the whole country. Thus far, no inventory focusing on the Mantispidae of Tocantins has been published, and only 3 species were previously recorded from the state: Dicromantispa gracilis (Erichson, 1839), D. hyalina Machado &Rafael 2010, andLeptomantispa axillaris (Navás, 1908).…”

New records of Gerstaeckerella irrorata and Plega zikani (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) for Minas Gerais state, Brazil

“…After the pioneer studies on the biodiversity of the Brazilian Mantispidae published by Penny (1982) and Penny and Costa (1983), little has been studied about the distribution of this group in the country (Machado and Rafael 2010). According to Ohl (2004), 50 species are listed from Brazil, mostly occurring at the Amazon region.…”

“…Plega Navás, 1928 has a Nearctic and Neotropic distribution, occurring from northern Brazil northward to the southern USA. Five species have been recorded in Brazil, including P. beardi Penny, 1982, P. duckei Penny, 1982, P. hagenella (Westwood, 1867, P. paraensis Penny, 1982, and P. zikani Navás, 1936(Ohl 2004.…”

“…The distribution records of this species were published as Trichoscelia zikani by Penny and Costa (1983). Penny (1982) transferred the species to the genus Trichoscelia Westwood, 1852, but it was posteriorly restored to Plega (the original genus) by Ohl (2004).…”