Systematics of the green lacewing tribe Ankylopterygini Navás, 1910 (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Chrysopinae) from China

A systematic revision of the taxonomy of the green lacewing tribe Ankylopterygini (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Chrysopinae) from China is present. Sixty-six species belonging to six genera are recorded and described. Keys to genera, subgenera and species are provided. A total of 201 COI barcodes (partial sequence of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI)) from 49 species of the tribe are provided and used for molecular species delimitation. Nineta Navás, 1912 is treated as a subgenus of Tumeochrysa Needham, 1909. Two new generic synonyms are proposed: Tibetochrysa Yang, 1988, junior synonym of Retipenna Brooks, 1986; Sencera Navás, 1925, junior synonym of Ankylopteryx Brauer, 1864. Sixteen new species are described: Ankylopteryx hainanensis sp. nov., A. montipunctata sp. nov., A. stena sp. nov., Chrysopidia arcta sp. nov., C. macrosterna sp. nov., C. abdominata sp. nov., Tumeochrysa acuta sp. nov., T. breva sp. nov., T. biloba sp. nov., T. minina sp. nov., T. yangi sp. nov., Retipenna interrupta sp. nov., R. triphlebia sp. nov., Semachrysa pura sp. nov., Se. triloba sp. nov. and Signochrysa jianfenglingensis sp. nov. Twelve specific synonyms are proposed: Ankylopteryx yangi Ma, Yang & Liu, 2020, junior synonym of Ankylopteryx octopunctata candida (Fabricius, 1798), Chrysopidia yangi Yang & Lin, 1977, junior synonym of Chrysopidia junbesiana Hölzel, 1973; Chrysopidia fuscata Navás, 1914 and Chrysopidia tjederi Ma, 2022, junior synonyms of Chrysopidia regulata Navás, 1914; Tumeochrysa hui Yang, 1987, junior synonym of Tumeochrysa praeclara Hölzel, 1973; Tumeochrysa nyingchiana Yang, 1987, junior synonym of Tumeochrysa yunica Yang, 1986; Retipenna inordinata, Yang, 1997, junior synonym of Retipenna dasyphlebia (McLachlan, 1894); Retipenna chione (Banks, 1942 [1940]), junior synonym of Retipenna grahami (Banks, 1942 [1940]); Retipenna chaoi Yang & Yang, 1987, Retipenna guangdongana Yang & Yang, 1987 and Retipenna huai Yang & Yang, 1987, junior synonyms of Retipenna burmana Brooks, 1986; and Signochrysa hainanus (Yang & Yang, 1991), junior synonym of Signochrysa ornatissima (Nakahara, 1955). Eight new combinations are proposed: Retipenna phanera (Yang, 1987) comb. nov., R. sinica (Yang, 1988) comb. nov., Tumeochrysa abunda (Yang & Yang, 1989) comb. nov., T. dolichoptera (Navás, 1910) comb. nov., T. grandis (Navás, 1915) comb. nov., T. inpunctata (Reuter, 1894) comb. nov., T. shaanxiensis (Yang & Yang, 1989) comb. nov. and T. vittata (Wesmael, 1841) comb. nov. Ten species are newly recorded from China: Chrysopidia junbesiana Hölzel, 1973, C. nigrata Navás, 1910, C. ciliata (Wesmael, 1841), C. orientalis (Hölzel, 1973), Tumeochrysa inpunctata (Reuter, 1894), T. praeclara Hölzel, 1973, T. magnifica Hölzel, 1973, Retipenna burmana Brooks, 1986, R. variegata Brooks, 1986, and Semachrysa contorta Brooks, 1983. One species is transferred from Ankylopterygini to Chrysopini: Chrysopa yananica (Yang & Yang, 1989) comb. nov.

The genome sequence of a green lacewing, Nineta flava (Scopoli, 1763)

We present a genome assembly from an individual Nineta flava (green lacewing; Arthropoda; Insecta; Neuroptera; Chrysopidae). The genome sequence spans 732.30 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.16 kilobases in length.

Comprehensive DNA barcode reference library and optimization of genetic divergence threshold facilitate the exploration of species diversity of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Chrysopidae are a family of Neuroptera of significant importance in biocontrol against agricultural pests because of their predatory larvae. Currently, the taxonomy of Chrysopidae lacks a comprehensive revision, which impedes the exploration of species diversity as well as the selection and the conservation of green lacewings as biocontrol agents. We have established a DNA barcode reference library of the Chinese green lacewings based on an approximately complete sampling (95.63%) in 25 of the 34 provincial regions in China, comprising 1 119 barcodes of 25 genera and 197 species (representing 85% genera and 43.62% species from China). Combining other 1 049 high quality green lacewing DNA barcodes, we first inferred the optimal threshold of interspecific genetic divergence (1.87%) for successful species identification in multiple simulated scenarios based on present data. We further inferred the threshold of genetic divergence (7.77%) among genera with biocontrol significance. The inference and performance of the threshold appears to be mainly associated with the completeness of sampling, the proportion of closely related species, and the analytical approaches. Six new combinations, Apertochrysa platypa (Yang & Yang, 1991) comb. nov., Apertochrysa shennongana (Yang & Wang, 1990) comb. nov., Apertochrysa pictifacialis (Yang, 1988) comb. nov., Apertochrysa helana (Yang, 1993) comb. nov., Plesiochrysa rosulata (Yang & Yang, 2002) comb. nov., and Signochrysa hainana (Yang & Yang, 1991), are proposed according to integrative species delimitation. Our library and optimal threshold will effectively facilitate the exploration of species diversity of green lacewings. Our study also provides a methodological reference in molecular delimitation of other insects.

New Mitogenomes of the Green Lacewing Tribe Ankylopterygini (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Chrysopinae) and Phylogenetic Implications of Chrysopidae

Chrysopidae (green lacewings) are a cosmopolitan and species-rich family of Neuroptera, with remarkable significance of biological control against various agricultural and forestry pests. However, the phylogenetic position of Chrysopidae in Neuroptera and the internal relationships within the family remain equivocal among previous studies based on different types of data and sampling. Here we sequenced the mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of two species of the genus Ankylopteryx in the chrysopine tribe Ankylopterygini for the first time. The characteristics of these mitogenomes were analyzed in comparison with other green lacewing mitogenomes published to date. In the phylogeny herein reconstructed based on mitogenomes, Chrysopinae were recovered as the sister group to Apochrysinae + Nothochrysinae. Within the subfamily of Chrysopinae, Nothancylini were recovered as the sister group to (Leucochrysini + Belonopterygini) + (Ankylopterygini + Chrysopini). The divergence time estimation suggested an Early Cretaceous initial divergence within the extant Chrysopidae. Within Chrysopinae, the four tribes except Nothancylini diverged around mid-Cretaceous.

Discovery and redescription of the true Nuvolumbrosus Navás and naming of a new Nuvol species (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae, Leucochrysini)

Examination of a newly discovered specimen of Nuvol showed that our earlier species determination of Nuvolumbrosus Navás had been incorrect and that our "redescription" of the species actually applied to an undescribed species. Here, we redescribe the true N.umbrosus, based on a newly discovered male specimen. This specimen closely resembles Navás' description, and it was collected from the Atlantic Forest as was the original type specimen. In addition, we assign the previously misidentified Nuvol specimens from the Amazonian region to a separate species, Nuvolsatur Sosa & Tauber, sp. nov. As a result of these actions, the genus Nuvol now contains two morphologically and geographically distinct species. In addition, the abdomens and genitalia of both sexes of Nuvol are now described (although each from a separate species).

The green lacewing genus Anachrysa Hölzel, 1973 (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae): a new species, two new combinations, and updated key to species

A new species, Anachrysaadamsi sp. nov., from Yunnan, China is described. Two new combinations are proposed, namely Anachrysaalviolata (Yang & Yang, 1990), comb. nov. and Anachrysatriangularis (Yang & Wang, 1994), comb. nov. An updated key to species is also provided.

Notes on the green lacewing subgenus Chrysopidia (s. str.) Navás, 1910 (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), with description of a new species from China

A taxonomic study of the green lacewing subgenus Chrysopidia (s. str.) from China is presented. Based on the examination of type specimens of the genus reported by previous Chinese scholars and the line drawings of Chrysopidiamanipurensis provided by Ghosh (1990), I proposed five new combinations: Apertochrysaplatypa (Yang & Yang, 1990), comb. nov., Apertochrysayangi (Yang, 1997), comb. nov., Apertochrysashennongana (Yang & Wang, 1990), comb. nov., Apertochrysazhaoi (Yang & Wang, 1990), comb. nov., and Apertochrysamanipurensis (Ghosh, 1990), comb. nov. As for Chrysopidiasinica Yang & Wang, 1990, I still treat it as a valid species until supplementary specimens are available because the gonarcal complex of the type specimen is missing. A new species Chrysopidia (Chrysopidia) tjederisp. nov. is also described based on new materials. A key to all known species of this subgenus is also provided.