Climacia californica Chandler

Bowles, David E., 2006, Spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) of North America with a key to the larvae and adults, Zootaxa 1357, pp. 1-19 : 8-10

Climacia californica Chandler

Figures 4 , 17 , 24–26

This species is most similar in appearance to C. areolaris , but it is usually smaller in size and the pale colored area of pterostigma covers only four veins ( Fig. 17 ). The antennae are pale to dark brown, and the postocciput is pale brown and not distinct in color from the rest of the head. Male terminalia in lateral view have the ectoproct nearly parallel-sided ( Fig. 24 ) and its dorsal surface bears numerous, prominent dentigerous-based setae. The internal spines and vertical wall of the gonarcus complex together appear H-shaped in dorsal view ( Fig. 25 ). Female terminalia have tergite 9 longer than broad in lateral view ( Fig. 26 ). The gonapophyses gradually curve posteriad with the apex at an angle of approximately 70o and with coarse serrations dorso-apically.

Climacia californica previously was reported from northern California ( Chandler 1953), Oregon ( Parfin and Gurney 1956), and Idaho ( Clark 1985). New distribution records for this species are reported here from Durango, Mexico, and Texas and Utah in the United States which greatly expands its known range. Moreover, the updated distribution of this species suggests that it is distributed throughout the southwestern United States and Mexico. Climacia californica is occasionally co-collected with C. chapini where their respective ranges overlap. Specimens were collected in May, August and November.

Published and Supplemental State and County Records. MEXICO. Sonora ( Oswald et al. 2002). UNITED STATES. California: Lake (Chandler 1956) (USNM); Imperial (BYUC). Idaho: Minidoka ( Clark 1985); Twin Falls (BYUC). Oregon: [Deschutes] ( Parfin & Gurney 1956).

New State and Country Records. MEXICO. [Durango]: 2 mi NW Nombre de Dios, Dgo., 24-VII-1969, J. Doyen & J. Haddock, 1 female (EMEC). Michoacan: Patzquero, 31-VIII-1938, L. J. Lipovsky, 1 female (SEMC). Tamaulipas: vic. of Punta Piedra, 25-IX- 1981, W. H. Cross, blacklight trap, 1male, 1 female (MEM). UNITED STATES. Texas: Bandera Co., Camp Verde, Verde Creek, 8-VIII-1992, D. E. Bowles, blacklight, 1 male [genitalia damaged] (DEB); Brewster Co., county park (The Post), 8 km S Marathon, elev. 1090 m, 11-V-1993, J. Gelhaus & D Koenig, 1 female (ANSP); Val Verde Co., Devils River at Dolan Falls, 4-7-VIII- 1994, C. R. Nelson, R. S. Hansen, A. W. Hook, O. Hernandez, S. K. Jasper, R. Gibson, UV-light, 1 female (BYUC); same, but Dolan Falls Preserve, N 30o 25’ 8.9”, W 97o 48’ 46.9”, 3-VI-1997, D. E. Bowles, UV- & MV-light, 1 adult [abdomen missing] (DEB); same, but at Dolan Falls, 15-V- 1999, light trap, 1 male (DEB); same, but Rio Grande at Langtry, 21-VI-1990, E. G. Riley & C. S. Wolfe, UVlight, 1 female (TAMU). Utah: Washington Co., Red Cliffs campground near Leeds, 5-X- 1979, J. A. Stanger, 1 female (BYUC).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 10. Structures of larval Sisyridae. 1 – 2. Abdominal tergite 6, tubercle group, left side, dorsal (redrawn from Pupedis 1980): 1. Climacia. 2. Sisyra. 3 – 4. Mesothoracic sclerite, right side, dorsal: Climacia spp: 3. C. areolaris and C. chapini. 4. C. californica, (redrawn from Pupedis 1980). 5 – 6. Abdominal segment 6, lateral turbercle (redrawn from Pupedis 1980): 5. C. areolaris. 6. C. chapini. 7 – 8. Abdominal segment 1, ventral gill: 7. S. nigra and S. vicaria (redrawn from Weissmair & Waringer 1994). 8. S. apicalis. 9 – 10. Abdominal segment 5, lateral tubercle (redrawn from Poirrier & Arcenaux 1972): 9. S. nigra and S. vicaria. 10. S. apicalis.

FIGURES 15 – 17. Forewings of Climacia. 15. Climacia chapini. 16. Climacia areolaris. 17. Climacia californica

FIGURES 18 – 26. Male and female terminalia of Climacia (modified from Parfin & Gurney 1956). 18 – 20. Climacia chapini: 18. Male, lateral, with gonarcus complex beneath; 19. Male, dorsal; 20. Female, lateral. 21 – 23. Climacia areolaris: 21. Male, lateral, with gonarcus complex beneath; 22. Male dorsal; 23. Female, lateral. 24 – 26. Climacia californica: 24. Male, lateral, with gonarcus complex shown beneath; 25. Male, dorsal; 26. Female, lateral.