order · 2017. 6. 2. · order neuroptera (alder-flies, lacewings) tr~rs order includes all those...

Order NEUROPTERA (Alder-flies, Lacewings)

Tr~rs Order includes all those Endopterygote insects wllicll possess a primitive stnict~ire of head and thorax, inclusive of complete mandibulate mouth-parts, and (except in Nemopteridae) without elongation of t l~e head anteriorly to for111 a rostrun1, together with either the beginnings or a comyletc formation of a pectinate radial sector and of sn~all ternlinal twiggiiigs of the veins. The great majority of the forms can bl: at once recogilized by the complete series of slallting costal veinlets, by the closely parallel branchcs of the radial sector and by the numerous irregular cross-veins on the wings; but it should be borne in tnind that both these last-named characters are really of secoildary importance, and that the most prilnitive forn~s had a radial sector with only the beginnings of a pectinate formation, and scarcely any cross- veins at all. The highly reduced Coniop:erygiclae have none of the vcna- tional characters here mentioned, and can only bc correctly classifiecl I)y a study of thcir general ~lmrpliology and life-history. Alnrost without exception the members of the Order sit with wings closely folded over the bocly in a high, roof-lile manner.

ITlc. Ut . T V l n g ~ of A~;chic7~a?t1iollcs dubitatus Walls., New Zealand. Fam. Corydalidae. Length 46 mm. Lettering as In fig. A8 p. 22. rn. J . 'T. det.

I Characters. H e a cl of variable sliape, usually l~~~oaclcr than long, with co?irpou71d eyes widely separated; occ,lli present or absent; n ~ i t c ~ l , ~ a e I with scape. pedicel and numerous similar segments forming a n~crlirln~ to long flngellunp, usually monilifornl or filiform, son~etinics pectinate, --

F I ~ . U2. Larva of A~oItic7~a~~liodes FIQ. U3. Pupa of same ( X 4 ) . clztbitatc~s Walk. Length 27 mm. [ I : . J . T. dcl.

rn. J . T. ~zcz.

thickened or clubbed. Dloztth-parts complete ; labruf~z usually broad and entire, sometimes notched or divided in the middle; 11la7zdibl~s with strong apical tooth and usually with an inner tooth or projecting ledge; ~itaxillne with lacinia, galea and 5-segmented palp; l i y p o p h u r y ~ l ~ a short niembranous tongue, often trilobed; lnbizt~n with well-developed men- tun1 and 3-segmented palpi, but with ligula poorly developed or absent.

T 11 o r a x of primitive form, the three segments usually very distinct from one another. Protltouax variable, so~netirnes very short or small, son~etiilles strong, cylindrical or elongated. il/l'csothora.v always strongly developed, the mesonotun1 showillg the primitive divisions of thc scutum into three distinct parts, with a n~oderately formed scutelluin behind; mesopleura well clcveloped ; mesosternuln small. ~l.letatho~,nr similar to mesothorax, but solnewhat shorter and narrower. Lcgs usually short; coxae not elongated, meson sometitiles pmsent ; fcmora inoderately stout; tibiae slender, with or without spurs; tarsi 5-segmented.

-W i n g s almost always held in a high, roof-like llnnner above the body when a t rest, and generally only capable of moderate, undulat- ing or uneven flight; their bases always well separated; usually fore and liindwing are not connected in flight, but several families sho\v a primiti,ve coupling-apparatus wit11 jugal lobe (fibula), humeral lobe and stiff frenular bristles. Vienation (figs. U1, U8-U12, U15, U16), - - - -. -. . excessively variable, showing all f' -: developn~ent of a completely pectinate radial sector, an/ .ass-venation and. a corn- plete marginal series of tiny twig$

- - ~ e i n s . often se~aratetl hv

I-- . . ' -. I-J

i M. C. Davies ~ h o t o .

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA

PLATE 22

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZE-\LAND NEUROPTERA All figures natural size

1. Archicltac~liodes dt~bitatzls Walk. (Farn. CORYDALIDAE), - female, N.Z.

6

2. Ithogrc ffcsca Xewm (Farn. ITHONIDAE~, male, Aus. 3. Zthor~c f t~sca N e w n (Fam. ITRONIDAE~, female, Aus. 4. Spern~oplzorclla ~rzacz~latissi~rla Till. (Farn. BEROTHIDAE); female, Aus. 5. Stotobicl ln ltirsr~tissilua Till. (Fam. BEROTHIDAE), AUS. 6. Berotlra gracilipcrr~~is Till. (Fam. BEROTHIDAE), AUS.

I 7. Drcpailao.a birlocrrla Xewm., type-form (Farn. H E ~ X E R ~ B ~ ~ D A E ) , Aus. a id N.Z. 8. Drrpailacra Oircoc~~la Newtn., var. irtstubilis McL. (Fam. HE~~EROBIIDI\E). 9. DI.cp(~trnct-a biltoct~la N e w n , var. lo~tgitr~ditralis .Till. (Farn E ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : ~ ~ ~ ~ ) .

10. ~ r e p a r k c r a b i ~ r o c ~ ~ l a Xcwm., var. Oililrrata Till. (Fam. HEMEROBIIDAE). 11. Drepatlncm Oil~oc~cla Newm., var. ercisa Till. (Fam. HE>IEROBIIDAE). 12. Dt-epagto~r~i~~a Dcrothoidcs McL; (Farn: HEMEROBIIDAE)', AUS. 13. Psgcltobiclla sordidn N. Banks (Fam. H E ~ ~ E R ~ ~ I I D A E ) , . h s . 14. Notlroclr~ysa iirsigilis Walk. (Fam. CHRYSOPIDAE), AUS. 15. Dictyoclrrysa flrlza E.P. (Fam. CHKYSOPIDAE), AUS. 16. iV1arrtis)o a~lstialasiar Wwd. (Farn. M/,NTISPIDAE), AUS. 17. Ditn.ris Oi~cl-ic~ta Wwd. (Farn. MAE\'TISI~IDAE), AUS. IS. C1,nstiioptcra hutt i IVwd. (Fam. NE>IOPTER:DAE).

I .

CHARACTERS 310

marginal dots which are the sockets of stiff hairs ; main veins hairy, but cross-veins seldonl so, and manbrane never. Sc a long, straight vein, with numerous costal veinlets, ending at or within the pterostigma, which is sometimes formed only by numerous, closely parallel veinlets, sometimes morc or less strongly thickened; costal veinlets solnetiines branched or connected by cross-bars ; the first of the series, or humeral veinlet (~zIx) , sometimes a recurrent vein (fig. A21, F) with numerous branches, especially when costal space is enlarged. R, a strong, straight vein running close below Sc and often sending numerous veinlets apically into l'terostigma. Xs qrising near base and usually very highly dcvclopcd as a peotinate vein with m n y obliquely descending branches, but often with R,,, keeping the more primitive, dichotom,ic form. A f rarely with four branches, usually rcduced to three or two only, and often nearly squeezed out of existence by the over-development of Rs. Czt, a strong vein, always branched, often with a pectinate series of descending branches; Czi, a weak concave vein, sometimes shortened or absent. Three anal veins are present, often branched. In dally forms the consecutive branches of main veins are separated by definite furrows in the membrane; of these, one between Rs and M and one between Ad and Cul are most clearly defined.

A b d o m e n usually more or less cylindrical and slender (stout in Ithonidae), short or long, with ten segments; seg. 1 short, 2-S well

, I , - FIG. U4. , FIG. UE. FIG. UG.

Fro. U4. Larva o f Eziosn~yl<is stellue McL., New Zealand. Fam. Osniylidae. Length 2 0 mm. [ A . TO?L?IOIV (1~1.

FIG. Us. Larva o f Acn?tthaclisl.s fandata Walk., Australia. Barn. iWyrmeleontic1ae. Length 2fi mm. CR. J . T . clel.

FIG. UG. Larva o f Suhpalacsa flavipes Leach, Australia. Fain. Ascalaphiclae. Length 10 mm. , ,, LA. To?rnoir del.

developed, 9 short, 10 much reduced. Spiracles eight pairs, on segs. 1-8. Idales with a pair of superior appendages which are formecl as lobes of

N E U R O P T E R A

Tlle Order is divided into two very distinct Suborders (considered by some as two distinct Orders), as follows :-

Wing-venation with little or no end-twigging of veins, and with little estra branching of Rs. ( In one or two genera not found in Australia or New Zealand this character does not hold). Larvae with normal mandibulate mouth-parts, six Malpighiail tubules and no anal silk-glands ; pupae not in a cocoon.

hiIEGALOPTERA Wing-vcnntion (escept in Conioptcrygidae) with definite, frequently abundant, end-twigging of veins, generally also with numerous branches of Rs. Larvae with specialized sucking man- tlil)lcs ant1 maxillae, anti eight Ma!pighian tubulcs, six of which arc specialized to form the anal s~lk-glands; pupae in a cocoon.

PLANIPENNIA Suborder MEGALOPTERA

This is a small group containing under 200 species throughout the world. I t includes two very distinct superfamilics, Sialoidea, known as Alder-flies in England, Dobson-flies in America, and Raphidioidea, or Snake-flies. The latter do not occur in Australia or New Zealand. The following Key distinguishes the two groups :-

Prothorax not greatly elongated. S c long, fused distally with RI: larvae aquatic. I. SIALOIDEA Prothorax forming an elongated neck. Sc shorter, not fused with XI distally ; larvac arboreal. [RAPHIDIOIDEA]

Supcrfamily I. SIAI,OIDEA These are sluggish insects f o u d only in the ncighbourhood of fresh-water streams; thcy fly mostly only late in the day or after dusk. There are two distinct fatnilics, both found in Australia, but only the Corydalidae in New Zealand:-

Small insects expanding less than an inch; forewing with M and Czcf fused for a space below level of origin of Rs. Larvae with abdomen ending in a single, elongated sucker. Fam. 1. SIALIDAE Much largcr insccts expanding 2 to 4 inchcs; forewing with Af and CI~I cluitc separate. Larvae with last abdominal scgmcnt provided with a pair of hook-bearing processes. Fam. 2. CORYDALIDAE

Family 1. Sialidae (Alder-flics) [Aus. 3, N.Z. 01. The Australian species are all very rare insects, the handsomcst being Azrstrosinlis igrcicollis Till. from Tasmania, about 20 mm. in expanse, with black body and wings and bright orange prothorax. Stertosialis, with narrower wings, has one species in Queensland. A s~naller and duller species (undescribed) occurs near Sydney.

Family 2. Corydalidae (Dobson-flies) [Aus. 1, N.Z. 11. This fine fami!y is rcprcse~lted by a single genus, Archicha~tliodes. A . dubitatzrs Walk. (fig. U1 and pl. 22, fig. 1) is abundant on all running rivers in New Zealand. I t is a large insect, the ma!e expanding 2 to 26 inchcs, the female 3 to 4 inches, greyish, with pale scmi-transparent wings and spottcd venation. The larva (fig. U2) is a cylindrical grub, fiercely carnivorous, found undcr rocks in streams, and known as the "Toe-biter"; it is a splendid food for trout. The pupae (fig. U3) are not uncommon undcr rocks edging the streams. The Australian species A . gutti- fertrs Walk. is not so common, and varies greatly in colour ; the lowlaild forms have large black spots or blotches on the wings, whi!e the mountain forms closely resemble the New Zealand species.

Suborder PLANIPENNIA This Order contains the Lacewings, Ant-lions and allies. There are 16 families known, of which no less than 14 are found in Australia, but only five in New Zcaland. They may be divided into five superfamilies, as follows :-

I . T,argc, storlily I)uilt, niotlt-likc i~lsccts cxpn~~tling 30-50 mm., with primitive, unspecialized venation; hcatl snmll and closely applied to pro- i l~orax ; larva a burrowing grub of niclolontl~oitl form; cocooci clonjvtc- cylindrical with roundcd ends. 11. I T H O N O I D E A No1 such insccts. 2

P L A N I P E N N I A 314

2. Very small insccts, expanding 3 to 10 mm., of slender build; wings covered with a mealy pubcscc~~cc, usc~ally white or pale greyish; venation with only two branchcs to R s and no terminal twigging.

IV. CONIOPTERYGOIDEA Not such ir~sccts. 3

3 . I-lindwings greatly elongated, ribbon-like or spoon-shaped; larva with , a long neck. V. NEM'OPTEROIDEA

Hindwings not as above; larva without a long neck. 4 4. Antennae moniliform or filiform; Cu, mostly without a diverb' 'Ing pos-

terior branch; larvae more or less elongated, with mandibles clevoid of internal teeth. 111 HEMEROBIOIDEA Alitcnnac stoutly cylindrical, or will1 apex thicltct~ed or clul~l,ctl; C I L ~ mostly with a strong, diverging posterior branch; larvae very broad, its mandibles with one or more internal teeth.

VI. MYRMELEONTOIDEA

i FIG. U7. Ithone fusca Newm., Australia. Fam. Ithonidae. A, larva. Length 30 mm. B, pupa, ventral view, showing mandibles (in black). Length 2 5 mm.

[R. J . T. clel,

I Superfamily 11, 1THONOIDEA This group includes only the singlc family Ithonidae or Moth-Lacewings. Apart

I from Australia, this ancicnt group is only represented by tbc genus Rapisilla in the Himalayas and Oliarces in California.

Family 3. Ithonidae (Moth-Lacewings) [Aus. 6, N.Z. 01. This family contains three Australian gcnera. The males have large, forcipate appendages; the females arc larger and carry a peculiar sand-plough, which thcy usc for laying their cggs in sandy soil, rolling cacll into a small cocoon of sand-grains. The larvae (fig. U7) closely resemble thosc of Scarabaeidae in form, but have small heads without eyes, and strong burrowing Icgs; they emit a strong, pleasant

I odour of citronella. The sucking jaws arc short and triangular, upcurving, with the maxilla more strongly formed than the mandible. They attack Scarabaeid larvae and other inscct grubs in the soil, and are therefore of economic value; unfortunately, attempts to introduce them into other countries have so far failed. Ithone ficsca Newm. (pl. 22, figs. 2, 3) is common in the sandy coastal lands of New South Wales; the forewing has onfy a single Rs. Hete~itltortc, with three species, differs in having two apparent Rs in forewing; it occurs from Queensland to Tasmania. H. lncgncercu Till. is a fine species with huge appendages in the malc. Varrtia, with speckled venation, is confined to Western and Ccr7tral Aus-

) trnl~n.

1 Superfamily 111. I lEMEROBIOIDEA

I This group includcs all the smallcr laecwitigs except Conioptcrygidae, togcther with a fcw of larger size, all united by thc primitivc, monilifort~l or Iiliform

H E M E R O B I O I D E A

antennae. The larval jaws are mostly short atid somewhat curved, but those of tlie Psychopsidae have large, calliper-like jaws (fig. A21, B, C ) , while t l~osc of tllc Osmylidae (fig. U4) have long, slender, piercing spears. Most of tlie larvae are arboreal, but those of somc Osmylidac are semi-aquatic, lurking under wet rocks near running streams, while thosc of the Sisyridae are entirely aquatic. The itnagincs, especially Psychopsitlae and Chrysc.~ptdae, are attracted to light. The seven families may be separated as follows :-

1 1. Forewing with a t least two apparent radial sectors. Fam. 7. HE~~EROBIIDAE

Forewing with only n single Rs. 2 2 . Medium to large spccies having forewings very broadly roundctl

apically, tlic costal arca vcry broad, and a true vcircz lriplica formed by Sc,, RI and Rs, ending well before apes.

Farn. 4. ' P ~ Y C F I O P S I D A E

Not such insects. 3 3 . hlctliurn to large spccies having tlie wings divided into an inner discal

area containing irregular cross-veins and 2111 outer marginal area free of cross-veins ; S c iused distally with I<]. Fam. 10. OS~IYLIDAE Not such species (if, as rarely happens, S c i s fused distally with R,, thcn no discal area is prcsent, and vice versa). 1

4. Very small species with cross-vein r-t~t in hindwing long and placed longitudinally ; larvae aquatic, feeding on fresh-water sponges.

Fani. 6. SISYRIDAE Not such species; r-grt 0.f hindwink; short and normally l)l:~ccd. 5

5. Czt, in hindwing runs for a long distance close to hind border. Fam. 5. BI?ROTII~~~AE;

C7rl not as above. 6 6. Antennae short; protllorax long;. forelegs strong, raptorial; wings

usually ,narrow and with only one gradate series of cross-veins (two in Di tar is ) ; eyes dull; species usually of reddish or brown colour.

Fam. 9. MANTISPII)AE Antennae loilg to vcry long; prothorax and forelegs t lor~nal; wings not so narrow as al~ove, and with :I: !cast two gradate series of cross-

) veins ; eyes brightly metallic ; species of green or yellowish colour.

Farn. 8. CIIRYSOPIUAE

Family 4. Psychopsidae (Silky Lacewings) [Aus. 12, N.Z. 01. Antennae short, m o ~ ~ i l i f o r m ; head depressed, hiddcn beneath the bases of the greatly enlarged costal areas of forewings, which carry numerous branching veinlcts often connected with cross-bars, and a strong recurrent vein (fig. A21, F). R s with very numerous, closely parallel branches. Cross-veins mostly in 1, 2 or 3 gradate series : veins with numerous silky hairs. Larvae (fig. A21, B, C) elongate, some\vhat broad and flattened, covcrecl with grcyisll pubescence, and having large, callipcr-like

I jaws; they live uuder the bark of rough-barked eucalypts, especially Blood-wood, Tallow-wood and Ironbark. Pupae (iig. A21, D, E) in a pearl-like, spherical cocoon. A very ancient family existing almost unchanged sincc Triassic times, and wit11 its headquarters in Australia; a few species occur in Africa, India and China. Nearly all the species are of striking beauty. T\ve!vc of them belong to the dominant genus Psyckopsis, of which the type is the lovcly Ps. ~rti.~rtica Newm. (pl. 23, fig. 1) with pinkish fasciae on forewiiigs. Ps. elega~zs G L I ~ ~ . (pl. 11, fig. 19 and fig. A21, F ) occurs along the Eastern coast-line. Ps. coeli7!nglcs Walk, is a s~nal lcr species founcl in Qucensland, pure white, heavily market1 with metallic bronze-

I black. Ps . i?tsole~ts McL., the commonest spccies, has mottled, fawn-coloured wi.ngs. Psyclropsella gallnrdi Till. is a stnall. delicate species with narrow hind- wrngs. The finest and rarest spccies of all is &Iegapsychops illidgei Frogg., (pl. 23, fig. 2 ) , expanding 23 to 3 inches and with raised embossments and marks resembling brown varnish on the forewings; when a t rest, this insect sitnulates a reptilian head. I t occurs very rarely a t Mount Tambourine ant1 one or two othcr p!accs in S. Queenslatid.

Family 5. Berothidae [Aus. 8, N.Z. 11. A small family of six scattered genera, three of which occur in Australia and one in h'ew Zealand. T h e most

. intcresting are the two species of Spernrophorella, expanding about 15 mm., with well-rounded wings. The' females have a patch of hard, seed-like scales near middle of hindwings. S. disse~llii~ata Till. (fig. U8) lives in sandstone caves

. around Sydney, ancl lays stallced eggs; the larvae have short, straight jaws. S.

N E U R O P T E R A

~rlacz~latissi~ria Till. (pl. 22, fig. 4) is a darker specics found in S. Qucensland. The two spccics of Slcrrobiclln (pl. 22, fig. 5 ) have cxcecdingly long, narrow wings, obliquely truncated at tips. Berothn (pl. 22, fig. 6) has falcate wings. The New Zcaland specics, P~otobiella ze~alrdz'ca Till. has Cril less lengthened than usual. In this family alone of all Planipennia Sc and Rl are sometimes fused, some:irnes scparatc.

BIO. US. A. Spe~.?no~~l~orella disseminata Till.. female, Australia. Fam. Berothidae. Length of forewing 1 3 mm. Lettering a s in fig. AS, p. 22, except p t , ptero- st igma; B, a few of the hard, seed-like scales on the .hindwlng, enlarged ( X 60 ) ; C, stalked egg of same sl)ecies ( X 8) ; D, newly hatched larva of same species ( X 2 2 ) . [ R . J . T. del.

FIG. U9. Wlngs of Sisura ? J T ? L ~ ~ ? I C ~ N. I ~ ~ I I I C Y , Austmlla. I7nm Sisyri?ac. Lettering . . . a s . in - - fig. - -. - AS, . !: ?!::.,esP,"l)f r;? 2,":::

H E M E R O B I O I D E A 317

larvae arc aquatic, feeding on freshwater sponges; they have lo11g. hair-like jaws, ant1 t l ~ e abdomen carrics n series of paired, scgrncnlccl ap l~e~~dagcs r e s e ~ ~ d ~ l i i ~ g legs. Pupae in a delicate, double cocoon above watcr-level. The Australian specics all belong to Sisyra, the best known being S . brtrr~nea N. Banks (fig. U9).

Fro U10. Wings oP dIicromus Iaswlalziae Walk Australia an8 New Zcaland. Barn. Hernerobiidae. Note the'three a ~ ~ ~ a r e n t R s on forewing. Lettering a s in previous figure ; except fr , frenulum. [I?. J. T. tlel.

Family 7. Hemerobiidae (Brown Lacewings) [Aus. 16, N.Z. 41. Small species, mostly with brown or spotted wings, always with at least two apparent R s in forewing. Hindwing with r-111 long and placed longitudit~ally, as in Sisyridac. Eggs laid singly, uot stallted. The larvae are fusiform or subcylindrical, wit11 short jaws, and feed ravenously on the smaller Homoptera, especially aphids and psyllids; the family is highly beneficial to mankind. Cocoon oval. The Australian

I Hook-tip Lacewing, Drepanacra binoczila Nclvm. (pl. 2% figs. 7-11) equally common also in New Zealand, Lord Howc and Kermadec Islands, is one of the most variable of all lacewings, and its varieties have been describcd under many names; the commonest forms are var, hlcrizilis McL. and var. iristabilis hlcL.

Fro. U11. >Wings of Notl~ool~r?/sa instg,tk, Walk.. Aus- tralia. Fam. Chrysopidae. subfam. Chrysopinae. Lettering as in flg. AS, p. 33. The veins formlng the pscudomcdia and ~seudocubitus are slightly scpar- ntnr1 rn 9- tn rhn,.. ,kn t,..,n etrr.nt..m I\* thnon

, '

' . 318 NEUROPTERA

(pl. 22, fig. 8) ; the typc form, with a hl;lck eye-spot on forcwi~ig, is vcry mrc. All forms 1i;ivc Ijceu rcarccl f rom ;c sitiglc brood fccding on y o u ~ ~ g psyllitls 011 ilcncin dcc~rrurrts. Drcpatro,~rir~a bcrof/roidcs McL. (pl. 22, fig. 12) is a rarer inscct with a hump on costa of forewing. iZlicro11~1ls IS rcpreselltcd by t w ~ spccics in Ar~stra!ia and two ill New Zc;rlar~tl. 144. tos~rlnrriae Walk. (fig. U10) is t l ~ c 111ost usclul ar~tl abundant lacewing ill both countries, :u1d docs gootl work in gardens and orchartls, its 1;irvac destroying introduced scales ant1 aphids. Other gcncra arc Boriorr~~rin in Ncw Zcaland, Mcgalo~r!lrs, Psyclrobiella (pl. 22, fig. 13), 0.1-ybiclln, Notiobirlla and Cnrobit~s in Australla; the last-named conti~lns very small, prcttily nlarkcd specics with only two apparent R s in forewings (suh- family Spmphcrohiitlae) ; the other genera have three or more (subfamily kl~lller<)l)ii1l~~c).

Fro. U12. Wings of OZipocirr~sa gracills E. P.. AUS- tmlia. Pam. Cl1rysopid:re. subfam. Apochrysinac. Lettering as in p1.evious figure, except C ? L ~ ' , pseudo-

' cubitus ; df ', pseudomedia. [a. J. T. del.

Family 8. Chrysopidae (Green Lacewings, Golden Eyes. Stinlc-flies) [Aus. 28, K.Z. 01. TI-rc vernacular names arc given f rom the prevailitlg green colour, from the brilliantly metallic, usually or coppery eyes, and from the fact that a numl~cr o i thc spccies emit a-vcry unpleasant odour when handled. An- tennae long, filifornl. Wings \\lit11 2 or 3 gmdate scries of cross-veins, and I:av~na the branches of R s peculiarly zig-zagged, so as to fortn. in combination with !1/1 and Crr,, a pair of straight longitudinal veins called the pselldolrzctlia (M') and pscttdoc~lbittcs (Ctr;). Eggs laid on long, slender stalks. Larvac very similar t o those of Hemerobiidac, but usually wit11 abdo~nen stouter in the middle: some spccies cover themse!ves with the d6bris of dead aphids o r coccicls. Cocoo~l spherical, pearl-like. A highly beneficial iarnily, abscnt from New Zealand. T h e dominant genus in Australia, as elscwherc. is Clrrysopa, with nr:mcrous species, many of which have not yet bee11 described: six species are known from Norfolk Island. The specics are closely allicd and difficult to distinguish;. Ch.. si,qrzata IValk. appcars to be the commonest. Nobhochrysa contains several larger species. yellowish in colour, N. ixsigtris Walk. (pl. 22, fig. 14) being the best known species. Arzl~y10,btcryx includes a few, small specics with hroadet~ed costal area in forewing. Dictyoclrrgrsa (pl. 22, fig. 15) is a remarkable genus, confined to Anstralia, in which the \vhole wing is fillcd with a meshwork of polygonal cells. The vcry distinct subfamily Apochrysinae, considered by some as a separate family, is reprcsc~lted by the genus Apockrysa in Papua and by Oligoclcr~~sa : !~racilis E. P. (fig. U12) in Eastern Australia; this insect is an c x c c c d i ~ ~ a l ~ delicate, gauzy grccn lacewing, with very long, slender antennae, and enlarged costal area in forcwi~ig.

Family 9. Mantispidae [Aus. 26, N.Z. 01. These extraordinary lacewings superficially rescmblc thc Orthopterous Mantidae, with which they agree in the form of the hcad a!ld antennae, t~he elonaate prothorax, and thc peculiar

HEMEROBIOIDEA

raptorial forelegs. The venation comes closcst to that of Chrysopidne, but thcre is 110 fornl; t t io~~ of J4' or Crrl', and, excel11 it1 Di1tr.ri.v (111. 22, fig. 17). only o ~ l c gradate series of cross-veins; the wings arc usually lorlg and narrow, and the gradatc scries more longitudinally placed than in Chrysopidac. The eggs are

Fro. U13 (left to right). A. newly hatched larva of 3fa?atisga vittata Guer. ( X 90) : B, same larva a t beginning of third instar ( x 20). [ R . J . T. de2

minute, laid in masses on tiny stalks, so as to resemble the fructifications of a clump of moss. From the egg a tiny Hemerobiid-like larva (fig. U13, A ) emerges, which perishes unless it finds a spider's egg-capsule; the larva burrows through the silk and fceds on the spider's eggs, swcL!ing out very quickly into a f a t cream- coloured maggot with hcad and legs lost in the stout body. There arc three instars, during which the hcad and legs fail to develop pnri pns~zl with the greatly swollc~l body; thus the full-fed larva is a largc maggot with small, use!ess legs and a tiny hcad with small, sharp, sucking jaws (fig. U13, 13). Cocoon of coarse ycllow silk, usually spun within the spitlcr's egg-capsule. This family is \\,ell represented in Australia, the commonest forms being the reddish-brown spccies of Majctispa and Atrstro,rzantispa; the finest of these is 111a~~tispa a~rstralusiac Wwd. (pl. 22, fig. 16), measuring up to 2 inches in expanse; the larva feeds in the egg-capsules of large Lycosid spiders. M. strigipcs W\wvd. and &I. z~iltata Guer. are colnmon species of s~nallcr size. Cnlo~irn~rtispa spectnbilis N. Banks is a beautiful little species with a red and blaclc patch at basc of \\+ings, found in Tasmania and Eastern Australia. Euclitr~aria contains two handsome, wasp-like species with a narrow waist and banded wings. Ditarcis biseriata CVwd. (pl. 22, fig. 17) is a large brown species from 1 to 2 inches in expanse, the wings pinkish with two gradate series; it occurs in Sou t l~ Queensland. This genus is closely allied. t o the South American Drepa~ticrls.

Family 10. Osmylidae [Aus. 12, N.Z. 41. These graceful insects are dis- tinguished by the slender, fililorm antennae, not as lotlg as in Chrysopidae, and the wings having Sc ancl R1 fused distally, the area bc!ow them divided into an inner disc, with numerous irregular cross-veins, and an outer marginal area iree f rom cross-velns; undoubtedly a single gradate series (as in the American family Polystoechetidae) separated these two areas originally, and the inner cross-veins developcd later on. The eggs are not stalked: the larvae (fig. U1) are long and

L. '3 3'0 N E U R O P T E R A

slcndcr, with clongatcd, spcar-like jaws. The more typical forms have semi- aquatic larvac, usually shining black, which lurk utidcr rocks in wct places bor- dering strcatns. Cocoon flattish, soft, unsymmetrical. Ste~~os?rzylzrs is represented by several species in Australia, S. tnsinanietrsis Kruger being the best known, atld by the rare S. latiztsczrlrcs McL. (pl. 24, fig. 1) in New Zcaland. Eic/cls~~~ylrt.~ antl Octiosi~r~~lrrs c o n t ; ~ i ~ ~ smaller and more dclicatc Australian spccics , all these arc brownish or greyish in colour, son~ctimcs wit11 speckled wings E~rosrrryl~ts stellac McL. (pl. 2, fig. 21) is a smaller, rathcr short-winged spccics found in New Zealand, vcry variablc in wing-pattern, ranging from ycllo\~r to dark brown with all kinds of ICc~itpynrrs is a New Zcaland gcnus with two fine and beautifully marked spccies in4which the wings are somcwhat falcatc; K. irrcisz4s McL. is common, K. citrinzrs McL. milch rarer. T l ~ c Australia11 subfamily Porismjnae contains specics with arborcal larvae living undcr bark like those of Psychopsidac. Porisiitils sfrigatrbs Uurm. (PI. 11, fig. 20) is a lovely black and yellow spccics, often found rcsting on or flying aroilud eucalypts in April; it is thc corntnoncst Australian Osmylid. Erfporis~~irts albatror Till. (pl. 24, fig. 2) is a much largcr, black and white spccics, vcry handsome, found ill South Quccllsland.

Superfamily IV. CONIOPTERYGOIDEA These tiny insects, mostly from 3 to 5 mm. in expanse, resemble the Aleurodidae or "Snow-flies" in having the wings covered with a white or greyish meal. The general morphology and life history prove them to be Planipennia, though the \vings have only a two-branched R s and no end-twigg~ng. Thcy have tiny, pink, fusiform larvae which attack larval psyllids, and arc usually found hiding in the growing tips of twigs of infected trees and shrubs, especially wattles. There is only one family.

FIG. U14. Spiloco~~is maculata End., Allri- tmlia. Fam. Coniopterygidae. Lettering as in fig. AS, p. 22. Lengtb of forewing 4.5 mm. [ A . !Z'o?b?ao.iv clel.

Family 11. Coniopterygidae [Aus. 12, N.Z. 11. New Zealand has one rindescribed spccies belonging to Helicoco~cis. In Australia Parase~nidalis is the most abundant genus, P. fari~zosa McL, the commonest spccies. Other genera arc Hctsroconis, Iirlicocortis and Spiloco?zis. S. ~naculatn End. (fig. U14) is the largest species, expanding up to 10 njm., white witllthrce dark spots on forewing.

Superfamily V. NEMOPTEROIDEA A group of extraordinary lacewings, in which the head is prolonged forwards into a rostrum, the antenllac are short, cylitldrical and thickened, and the first scgment of thc abdomen is closely united with the thorax. The hindwing is remarkably specialized, being excessively long and narrow, either ribbon-like, or with one or two expandcd parts, more or less spoon-shaped, and twisted round upon itself bct~vccn t11c cspansions. The iorcw~ng has a primitivc Myrmelco~ltoid typc of vcnation. Larvae tlwcllitlg in sand or dkbris, with stout body, long slcnder neck, calliper-like jaws with or without internal teeth. Thcre is only one family. Ncnioptcridac, conlinetl to Africa, Matlagascar, Sout l~ Europc to India, ant1 LVcstern Australia across to N. Quccnsland.

.-. - - .- --- - -

Family 12. Nemopteridae [Aus. 4. N.Z. 01. The family is cli\fidcd into the Ncmopterinac or Spool]-wingcd Lacewings ancl the Crocinae or Thread-wingcd Lacewings. The former are represented in Western Australia by the rare Cl~ls?noptcra hzttti Wwd. (pl. 22, fig. 18), and by thc larger and paler Ch. superba Till. The Crociriae arc rcprcscnted by Crocc attcizztatn Frogg. in Central Aus- tralia and N. Quecnsland, and by an undcscribcd gcnus in Western Australia.

FIG. U16. Wings of ~lfu~.?nclco?& c~?risevint?rs Gerst.. Australia. Fnm. Myrme- leontldae, subfam. Myrmelcotlti~lac. I~cttering as in flg. AS, p. 2 2 ; except h p , hypostigmatic cell; 0, oblique vein indicating. point of fusion of M.,, with CZL,. LR. J. T. del . ,

I Superfamily VI. MYRMELEONTOIDEA This great group, dominant within the Order, appears to have arisen in the Juras- sic from the same stern as the Osmylidac. The antennae are thickened, cylindrical, apically swollen or clubbed. The wings are either completely reticulate or retain the Osmylid character of a division into a reticulate disc and an open marginal area; thcy usually show further specialization in the region of Rs, h.l and CU,

I and the anal veins become much reduced. Larvae (figs. US, 6) always stout- bodied, often very rounded, with lateral processes; jaws very large, curved apically, with at least one internal tooth on each mandible. Cocoo~l spherical. There are five families, all found in Australia and thrce of then] confined to Aus- tralia and Papua. Only the Myrmelcontidac occur in New Zealand. The hypostigmatic cell (figs. U15, 16 I@), below the fused ends of S c and Xi, is of importance in classification. The families arc separated as follows:-

1. Area between S c and R, with numerous cross-veins ; antennae cylindri- ca!, without any terminal thiclce~ting; larval ~nandibles with only one internal tooth. 2 Area between Sc and RZ devoid of cross-veins; antennae always either swollen, flattened or strongly clubbed at apex; larval msndibles with at least three internal teeth. 2

Y

2.' Wings long and narrow; CUZ with diverging branches; forewing ~vi th narrow costal space; hindwing with M simple. Fam. 13. N ~ x r r ~ 1 o . 4 ~ Wing broader, with wide costal space in forewing; Clrl without diverging branches; hintlming with M forked near basc.

Farn. 13. ~~IYIODACTSLIDAE 3. Anteilnae short. 4

Antcnnae long, e~lcli~tg in a stroll!: club; no clong:ttcd hypostigmatic cell prcsctil. Farn. 17. A s c ~ ~ h ~ r r r n ~ r

4. Antennae strongly clubbed; hypostipmatic cell variable in form; large. strongly built, swift-flying spccics wit11 smooth, snrny wings ant1 abdomen. Fam. 16. STILBO~TERYGIDXE Antennae weakly clubbed or flattened at tips; hypostigmatic cc!l elongated, without cross-veins ; Icss strongly built spccics with downy or hairy wings and bodies. Fam. 15. MYRMELEONTII),~

Family 13. Nymphidae [Aus. 6, N.Z. 01. A small family confined to Australia and Papua. The only common species is thc well-known Nyg~zphes ntynnclconides Leach (pl. 24, fig. 3), a beautiful, orange-brown insect, with strong musk-like odour, found in most parts of Australia. Eggs laid on long, slender stalks, under logs, dCbris, etc. Larvae stout, much like an ant-lion in shape, but very sluggish, drtll brown in color~r, lurking under logs or in tlCbris; 111a11t1iblcs largc ant1 curved, as in ant-lio~~s, but with only one illterllal tooth. Cocoon spllerical, yellowish-brown, atlchorecl to bark, by a stout silken thread. Other genera

Fro. U16. Wings of Osmylops pallitl~cs N. Banks. Australia. Fam. Myiodactylidae. Lettering as in ilg. A8, P. 22. Length of forewing 23 mm. L I Z . J . T. del .

Family 14. Myiodactylidae [Aus. 6, N.Z. 01. A small family found only in Australia, Papua and Lord Howe Island. These insects closely resemble Osmylidac, but have broader wings and thicker and shorter antennae. 11f is simple in forewing, two-branched in hind. Their larvae (fig. U17) arc entirely different from those of Osmylidae, being extraordinary, flattened, circular, disc-like creatures of a bright green colour, with complex lateral processes; the long curved mandibles htqve a single internal tooth; thc jaws are held wide apart at an angle of more than lBOo, ready to snap at any insects that comes within reach. These larvae hide on the underside of leaves of eucalypts and other plants. Eggs laid fn long stalks, hanging downwards. Cocoo~ls of soft pale silk, nearly spherical. There arc two gcncra, hfyiodacf~llrrs, found in tropical Australia and Lord Howe Island, with very rcticulate costal area, and Ostnylops (fig. U17), which cxtcnds from the tropics down into New South Wales and Victoria. 0. pallidrrs Banks (fig. U1G) IS a delicate, greenis11 species found round Sydney and Brisbanc.

Fa~ililv 15. Myrmeleontidae* (Ant-lion Lacew;ngs) [Aus. 95, N.X. 21. This family, which is t l ~ c don~inant one of the Ordcr, is perhaps better known

its f;llniliar 1:irval lorrns, c;illctl ";u~t-1:olls" (fig. US), ratl~cr tl1:111 from the slclldcr, tlclicatc. adult !acewings. The 1:trvae are stout-l~otl~etl, wit11 large

F I ~ . ~ 1 7 . I,nrva of Os,nylops l~allidzcs N. Banks. Lenatll 6.5 mm. .jaws nro\.cd into forwnrcl yos~tloll to shoW r;truCturc. [ A . l9onv~o.lr del.

jx\vS ct~rved inwards apically and having at lcqst three i a t e r ~ ~ a l teeth on each rna~ldibl~. Most of tltcm live hicldcn in sand or debris. Of all the Australiall

genrra, only the larvae of d l l ; r ~ ~ ~ e l c o ~ t and Collistoleoii arc known to malw conicdl pits in sxnd to snare tl~eir prey Cocoo~l spherical, covered wit11 sand. The

imagines have short, fccbly clul~bed or flattened antelin+, and long, narrow wings, with Sc and R1 fused apically and a !ong, opeI1, h~pos t~gmat ic cell (fig. ~ 1 5 . hp) present. M s + ~ in foreiving is fused rvlth CUI, its free basal piece beillg represented by obliquc vein (fig. Ul5, 0 ) . There are 36 genera in Australia. the family being p?rticularly ~vell represented in the arid regions of Western and Central Australla. Most of the genera and species belo11g to the subfatnily Dendroleon- ti~??c, in which there is only a single cross-v-ill before the origin of R s in hind- ~vung. The dominant genera are Glc~toleorz and For~r~icalco, each with about ? dozcn species. G. ~ILICI~CIILIS Ratltb., with two dark blotches on hindwing, IS

perhaps the commonest member of the family in Australia, but its life-history is quire unknoivn; the allied G. faistrs Walk. (pi. 24. fig. 4) and G. irrtcoriccu (;erst. have the hindwings with only one dark blotch. Mosscga ilcdccisa N. Bal?ks (pl. 21, fig. 5) is a delicate, very beautiful species with speckled ~vings, the lund pair rathcr eloo~ate. The three species of Perielystt~r are extremely halidsome lacewings with falcate wings. P. circt~itcr Walk. (pl: 24, fig. 6) and P. l[eccr-(,t~~~ Gerst. from Eastern Australia, expand up to 4 ~nches, with forcwi!lgs ~narlted and banded with purplish black; P. azarcolatzrs Till. (pl. 11, fig. 21) IS a rare West Australian species of smaller size, with rich golden areas on the fore- \vings. The allied Froggattisca p~clel~ella E. P. is also a beautifully marked inse5t. FOT-it~icalco and Psr~rdoforlvricaleo co~l ta i~l a number of closely s lm~lar specles with long, slender, speckled wings, occasionally with small black spots or blotches ; F. wafer Walk., I;. cnrcijr-o~ts Nav. and I;. brevi~cscul~cs Gerst. are the comlnorlest spccies. The genus Protoplectrort contains five rather rare, handsome species with speckled wings, in which Czttb runs m r e parallel to C ~ L P than usual in this family and costal space of forewing has two rows of cells. Eidolco~z bistrigatus Ramh., with long, pointed wings and a black longitudinal stripe on hindwings, IS very comtnon in Eastern Australia; in Western Australia it is replaced by the hand-

'Genus iW$/?.nteleov~, Greek murntcx. ant, and leovr, gen. lcol~tos. lion, Utem leov~t-, hence >Iyrmeleontldae, not 3fyrmeleonides.

M Y R M E L E O N T O I D E A 32.1

sonier E. ~ligrosigrtatns Till. Xa~ttlzoleo~c heliiisi Till. (pl. 23, fig. 3) is an extraordinary species which livcs in sandst~nc cavcs ;trountl Sydncy ;u~tl is ~rotcctivcly coloured; its larva, also sa~~cl-coloured, lives in the sand on the floor of the caves.

The subfamily Myrmelcor~tinac has scver;~l cross-veins belore the origin of R s in tlie hindwing. Twenty species are k~lown in Australia, nine belonging to ildyr-.~rleleola, the larvae of which are the common, pit-forming ant-lions. M. pictifro~ts Gerst, and M. ~~lbiseriatris Gerst. (fig. U15) are both very common in Eastern Australia; their pits are to be iound everywhere in sand in the bush, and are abundant also under houses. M. cr-oceicollis Gerst. is a fine species from Nor t l e r~ l Australia, grey with a yellow prothorax. The Ne\v Zca'and Ant- lion, M. acr~tus Walk. (pl. 24, fig. 7) is a handsome species, very variable in the amount of spotting of the wings; on accorint of its having usually two rows of cells in the basal part of the costal space of forewing, Navas has placed it in a distinct ge~lus Wceleus; but unfortunately tnany specin~ens lack this character entirely. The two species of Callistolco~z, C. eryfhroccpJ~allcs Lcach (pl. 23, fig. 4) and C. illt~stris Gerst. are very beautiful insects wit11 white venation and large black spots on the wings; they also have pit-forming larvae, but are not very common. Acal~thaclisis and its allies, Mestressa and Cosilza, include ten species of large size with a double row of cells throughout the costal space of forewing; their huge larvae (fig. U5) form no pits, but lurk under debris or loose soil a t the base of trees. A. fzlfldata Wa!k. (pl. 24, fig. 8), a handsome grey and.whitish insect with a very hairy body and an expanse of 3 t to 44 inches, occurs all over Australia. A. fzrlva E. P. and A. petcrscrzi Till. are very large, orange-brown species expandrng up to 7 inches. The beautiful Cositm ~imcluchlaiei Weele and C. arelrtclafa E.P. come froni the central desert belt of Australia; Navas has also described C. iccozela~tdica Nav. from New Zealand. Most of the species fly at night or in the evening; a few come to light.

Family 16. Stilbopterygidae [Aus. 3, N.Z. 01. These fine insects, confined to Australia, closely resemble true Ascalaphidae, but differ from then1 in having very short antennae, and in the variable condition of the hypostigmatic ccll, which, in some i~ltlividuals, closc!y approximates to the long, open cell of the previous family. The larvae are hnge, black, rugose creatures with round, somewhat flattenet1 bodies, spil~y lateral proccssi,s. Irtrgc hcatl :md ilnnie~~sc jaws ; they live in dCbris on the ground. The im:~nines fly at tlusk with gre:it spcctl, l ~ i g l ~ up in tlic alr in clearings in thc busl~ ; u~ilikc dragonflies, they have nc power to dodge or turn quickly, and can be c;lught cnerc!y by interposing a nct in their path. StilOopler3~.z- cosfulis Newm. occurs in Eastern Australia, S. rrapolco Lefklx-e (pl. 24, fig. 9) in Western Australizl; both are rare insects. S. lir~caris h'av. is a doubtful species.

Family 17. Ascalaphidae [Aus. 12, N.Z., 01. , These beautiful insects are perhaps the most highly developed of all Planrpenn~a. They are diurnal insccts with a strong, musk-like odour, and, like their analogues the Butterflies, have developed long, knobbed antennae. They gcncrally rest with wings droopi~lg obliquely below abdomen. Their hard, oval eggs are laid transversely in masses around twigs or grass-stalks, 50-100 togetlwr, and are frequently met with i11 tlie bush. The yo,ung larvae, with huge heads and jaws, .sit close together 011 the egg-shells, all combining to capture an unr\.ary inscct; but as soon as one of them reaches the second instar it becomes a cannibal, and many of its brothers fall victims to it. The larvae (fig. UG) differ from true ant-lions in having much larger heads and jaws; the body is thick, hut more or less flattened above. and tlie lateral processes are well devclo~cd: they hide away under d6bris. Cocoo~l splicrical, but disguised by ha.ving hits of dC.bris, leaves, twigs, etc., spur1 into the silk. Most of the Anstralinn species belong to S~rh/~ulocs~z* a r~d Acrrro,rotrrs : in the latter genus the males hare a raised, conical process rlorsally on the second abdominal segment. S. fEnvipcs Leach (pl. 24, fig. 10) and S. sirblraherts Walk. are the commonest species in Eastern Australia: the black and oranae A. ~ i r a g ~ ~ ~ r s McL. ranges across to \Vestern Australia, where also the much smaller, dark grey A. iltcz~sifer McL. is more rarely found. T l ~ e family is absent from Tasma~iia and New Zealand.

BANKS, N., 1909. "Hemerobiidae froni Queensland", Proc. Evtt. Soc. Wasltil~{,tol~. XI, pp.76-81 : 1910 "Chrysopidae from Australia", Ps~clre, svif, p . 9 9 : 1 9 1 0 , "Myrmeleontidae f;oq Australia", Avtl~. Blht. SOC. A?nel3., p.40.

*An uncouth anagram from Ascalnphz~s even the Greek "ph" is reversed to "hp" to suggest the antipodean character of 'the genus!

NEUROPTERX

~ ; x u , , . l a , N I ~ , c;., 190s. "Couio~lcrygiilae", ill G L ' ? I C ~ ~ L II~sco!o?'IL?~L, ~ H S C . 61. F a o o c ~ W . W. W., 1902-3. Two articles on austral in^^ Neuroytera in 'Proc. Li?rll.

Soc. N.S.1'V.. HUDSON, G. V., 1904, Are,w Zealal~d Nczc~opteru, ond don, West. Newmall & Co.,

i:oy. ~ d c . W . A . , 1025. V A ~ DEF T~VEELE H.,'190S. Ascalaphidae. Monographic Revision,. fasc. viii in Col-

Ecctzo?ts ~ o o i o ~ i ~ z c e s cl?c Ba?.oa E. de Selgs Lo?tgcl~amps, Brussels: '1910. Mega- lnntrra. I \ I o n o ~ r a ~ h i c Revision, Z.C., fasc. V.

. . . .. . - = . - - - . - - ,,=rT,-nbrnr c TA.. 1922. "The lving-venation of the coniopterygi@e", El~to? \V ...*. --.-- -, -. -

0- log-/tst. lv, pp.284%: 1925 "Some-Aspects of the Biology and Morgnology of the Neuroptera, etc.". ~ l ' n ? ~ s . Ent. Soc. Lo?tdon, 1926, pp.303-411.

CHAPTER XXIV

Order MECOPTERA* - (Scorpion-flies)

T I I~S small but very interesting Order contains the peculiar insects known as Scorpion-flies, the name having been given owing to the curi- ous formation of thc abclomell of thc males in the faniily Panorpidac, in which the bulbous genitalia of seg. 9 are carried curved forwarcls over the preceding segments, like the sting of a scorpion. Needless to say, the insects are quite harmless and .do not possess a sting. Though only 170 species are known to exist in the World to-day, the Order is a very ancient one; the earliest Endopterygote fossils yet discovered (of Lower Permian age) are true Mecoptera allied to the existing Australian Choristidae. The of the Order may be recognised by their long wings, with well rounded apices, the fore and hincl wings being closely siliilar, with primitive, dicl~otomically branched venation, and by the lengthening of the front part of the head and the nrouth-parts.

n ...,

PIO. V1. Head of Chorista australis F I G . V2. .Head of Nansocllorista dip- Klug, male, Australia. Fam. Chor- teroides Till., nlale, Tasmania. Fam. istidae. Nannochoristidae.

Lettering for both figs::-c, compound eye; Ic. lacinia; I p , labial palp; !1., labrum (left half cut away to show mandible in V2) ; atd, mandible; nzx, maxilla; 7?1Xp , maxillary palp: oc, ocelli ; so, sense-organ ; to, torulus. [A. S'ol~noir rlel.

*The Neuroptera, Mecoptera. Diptera, Sil~honaptera, Trichoptcra anti Lepi- Poptera are sometimes spolien of co1lectivel.v a9 the Mecopteroid Orders o r the Panorpoid Complex (p. 4 7 2 ) . They a re all undoubtedly very closely allied.

-

order · 2017. 6. 2. · order neuroptera (alder-flies, lacewings) tr~rs order includes all those...

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