Sisyra apicalis Banks

Bowles, David E., 2006, Spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) of North America with a key to the larvae and adults, Zootaxa 1357, pp. 1-19 : 13-15

Sisyra apicalis Banks

Figures 8, 10 , 27–29

This small species usually is 5 mm or less in length and can be distinguished from S. nigra and S. vicaria in having the antennae with the basal half and apical 4 or 5 segments dark brown and the intervening segments pale yellow. The forewings have prominent intervenational streaking. The ectoproct of the male terminalia is elongate in lateral view, the distal two-thirds parallel-sided, and the apex rounded ( Fig. 27 ). The parameres are divided into two distinct portions ( Fig. 28 ), but only the distal portion is visible in lateral view. The female terminalia in lateral view show tergite 9 nearly round in shape and with only a posterior articulation ridge ( Fig. 29 ). The gonapophyses are rounded apically and gradually arch posteriad.

Parfin and Gurney (1956) reported S. apicalis from the southern United States and Cuba. In this study, new distributional records for S. apicalis are recorded from Alabama, North Carolina and Texas in the United States. In Mexico and the United States, this species appears to be restricted to the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain ( Parfin & Gurney 1956, Poirrier 1969, Poirrier & Arceneaux 1972, Lago 1981, Oswald et al. 2002, this study). I have seen other specimens from the Bahamas, Costa Rica, and Panama. An additional record of S. apicalis from the Amazon River Basin ( Penny 1981) suggests this species is widely distributed throughout the Neotropics. Adult specimens have been collected during April, November and December. This species has been collected in February in Costa Rica (Penny et al. 2002) and is present throughout the year in central Amazonia, but more prevalent in June and July ( Penny 1981). Although this species has a wide distribution, it is seldom collected and is not well represented in most museums.

Published and Supplemental State, County and Parish Records. MEXICO. Quintana Roo: ( Oswald et al. 2002). UNITED STATES. Florida: Hardee, Marion ( Parfin & Gurney 1956), Paradise Key ( Parfin & Gurney 1956); Baker, Dade, Monroe (FSCA), Nassau (SEMC); Paradise Key, Putnam (FSCA), Sarasota (SEMC). Georgia: [Chatham] ( Parfin & Gurney 1956). Louisiana: St. Tammany ( Poirrier 1969); East Feliciana ( Poirrier & Arceneaux 1972). Mississippi: Lafayette ( Lago 1981); Jackson, Oktibbeha (MEM).

New State Records. UNITED STATES. Alabama: Baldwin Co., Bon Secour N. W. Refuge, T95, R32 E, Sec 24, 5 -6-IX-1988, R. L. Brown, J. MacGown, 1 male; same, but Gulf State Park, 26-VII-1985, R. L. & B. B. Brown, 1male (MEM); North Carolina: [Camden Co.], South Mills, IX-1-1962, A. B. Gurney, 3 adults (sex not determined) (USNM); Texas: Brazos Co., 9.5 mi ENE Kurten, N 30o 48’ 39”, W 96o 10’ 30”, 25-IX- 1998, J. D. Oswald, MV-light, Navasota River bottomland, 1 Ε (TAMU); Sabine Co., 9 mi E Hemphill, “beech bottom”, 24-IX-7-X-1989, R. Anderson & E. Morris, Malaise trap, beech magnolia forest, 1 male, 2 females (TAMU); San Jacinto Co., Big Creek, at TX hwy 150, 2 mi W Shepard, 23-X-1992, UV-light, Moulton & Alexander, 2 males (TAMU).

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 27 – 35. Male and female terminalia of Sisyra (modified from Parfin & Gurney 1956). 27 – 29. Sisyra apicalis: 27. Male, lateral; 28. Male, dorsal; 29. Female, lateral. 30 – 32. Sisyra vicaria: 30. Male, lateral; 31. Male, dorsal; 32. Female, lateral. 33 – 35. Sisyra nigra: 33. Male, lateral; 34. Male, dorsal; 35. Female, lateral.