The larval head of Nevrorthidae and the phylogeny of Neuroptera (Insecta)

Abstract

External and internal head structures of larvae of Nevrorthidae were described in detail. The results were compared to conditions found in other representatives of Neuroptera and the other two neuropterid orders. The cladistic analysis supported the monophyly of Neuroptera, Neuroptera exclusive of Nevrorthidae, Hemerobiiformia, and Myrmeleontiformia. Neuroptera exclusive of Nevrorthidae are supported by the formation of an undivided postmentum and the presence of cryptonephric Malpighian tubules. The highly specialized articulation of the neck (Rollengelenk) and the absence of a salivary duct are autapomorphies of Nevrorthidae. Ithonidae and Polystoechotidae form a clade and are the sister group of the remaining Hemerobiiformia, which are characterized by the complete lack of a gula and a terminal filament of the antenna. Within this lineage, a clade comprising Mantispidae, Dilaridae, Berothidae, and Rhachiberothidae is well supported. Larvae of Myrmeleontiformia are characterized by a complex transformation of head structures, with a hypostomal bridge, a small triangular gula, largely reduced maxillary grooves, and anteriorly shifted posterior tentorial grooves. The slender finger-like mid-dorsal apodeme is another autapomorphy of the group. Psychopsidae are placed as the sister group of the remaining Myrmeleontiformia, which are characterized by a conspicuous, protruding ocular region (often less distinct or even absent in Nemopteridae). Ascalaphidae are the sister group of Myrmeleontidae. Larvae of both families share the fusion of the tibia and tarsus in the hind leg. The larval characters analysed were not sufficient for full resolution of the myrmeleontiform and hemerobiiform lineages. The position of several families such as Osmylidae, Sisyridae, and Coniopterygidae remains uncertain. The results are in agreement with an aquatic ancestor of Neuroptera and secondarily acquired terrestrial habits within the lineage (Neuroptera exclusive of Nevrorthidae), and another invasion of the aquatic environment by Sisyridae.

The first holistic SEM study of Coniopterygidae (Neuroptera) - structural evidence and phylogenetic implications

“…Berothidae (MacLeod, 1964), the absence of a projecting labrum, therefore, cannot be treated as a synapomorphy of all other Neuroptera. The presence of six Malpighian tubes is not necessarily a plesiomorphic character as most other Neuroptera and especially Nevrorthidae, which are hypothesized to be the sister-group to all other Neuroptera (Aspöck et al, 2001;Haring & Aspöck, 2004;Beutel et al, 2009) have eight Malpighian tubes (e.g., Gaumont, 1976, who studied Myrmeleon formicarius, Chrysoperla carnea, Drepanopteryx phaleniodes, Sisyra nigra and Nevrorthus fallax). It seems plausible that six Malpighian tubes represent a reduction.…”

A new genus of dustywings (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) in Late Cretaceous Vendean amber

“…Nevertheless, Garnaconis n. gen. has the hind wing base of Rs very close to that of M, which is a character present in Aleuropteryginae and in Flintoconis Sziráki, second brucheiserine genus, while Brucheiser Navás, has highly modified fore and hind wing venation delicate to interpret (Riek, 1975). The polarity of this character remains controversial because even the sister-group relationships of Coniopterygidae within the Neuroptera remain debatable: Aspöck, Plant, and Nemeschkal (2001) supported a 'Coniopterygidae + Sisyridae' clade, while Haring and Aspöck (2004) and Aspöck and Aspöck (2008) supported a 'Coniopterygidae + dilarid clade' (see summary in Aspöck & Aspöck, 2007); Winterton, Hardy, and Wiegmann (2010) found Coniopterygidae as sister group of all other Neuroptera; Beutel, Friedrich, and Aspöck (2010) considered that the position of this family remains uncertain; Zimmermann and others (2011) considered them as sister group to the clade (Mantispidae + (Dilaridae + (Rhachiberothidae + Berothidae))); while Aspöck, Haring, & Aspöck (2012) proposed them as sister group of the (Dilaridae + (Mantispidae + (Rhachiberothidae + Berothidae))). Note that this last hypothesis, as for the sisyrid or dilarid hypotheses, is congruent with a basal position of Rs as a plesiomorphy for the Coniopterygidae.…”

New Record of Nevrorthidae (Neuroptera; Neuropterida) From Serbia

“…The found larval specimen (figure 2) is about 8 mm long, slender, with characteristic large jaws of Neuoptera larvae. It shows characteristic and unique morphology of larval Nevrorthidae, with dorso-ventrally flattened head and collar-like elongate and sclerotized cervix (Beutel et al, 2010;Gavira et al 2012). …”

“…Unlike most other neuropteran families, the Nevrorthidae have aquatic larvae, which even pupate in water (Malicky 1984). Extremely slender and agile larvae (Beutel et al, 2010) of this family live in clean mountain rivulets between stones, and capture their prey with jaws in form of sucking tubes, as a peculiarity of neuropteran larvae (Aspöck & Aspöck 2010). The adults are often found under overhanging twigs and leaves of the vegetation along such waters (Aspöck & Aspöck 2010).…”