Micromus areolaris Hagen, 1861

Assmar, Alice Carvalho, Pires Machado, Renato José & Calor, Adolfo Ricardo, 2022, Taxonomic revision and first phylogeny of Climacia McLachlan, 1869 (Neuroptera: Sisyridae), with new species and identification key, Zoologischer Anzeiger (Zool. Anz.) 299 (2022), pp. 128-175 : 135-136

Micromus areolaris Hagen, 1861 .

Distribution ( Fig. 6 )

Nearctic and Neotropical regions.

4.2. Diagnosis

Climacia differs from other Sisyridae genera by the convex vertex, lack of the epicranial sulcus ( Fig. 7A ), the not enlarged last segment of maxillary palp, and A3 vein joining A 2 in forewing. According with the original description, it differs from Sisyra by the triangular front, the elongated prothorax, and two series of gradate crossveins well defined ( McLachlan 1869). In addition, Climacia differs from Sisyrina , Sisyborina and some species of Sisyra due to the presence of a fusion of Sc and RA at pterostigma, which is absent in these genera.

4.3. Description

Head. Vertex convex, epicranial sulcus absent. Front triangular. Antennae with approximately 40–55 flagellomeres, never crossing posterior margin of forewing in length. Clypeus with two acute projections laterally and a medial invagination, resembling a “W” ( Fig. 7B and C ). Labrum medially concave, with rounded margin ( Fig. 7B and C ). Segments of labial and maxillary palps with approximately same width and length ( Fig. 7B and D ).

Forewing. Costal area not broad at the base, with 15 to near 30 subcostal veinlets. Margin and veins with numerous setae. One basal crossvein between Sc and RA. Subcosta joining RA at the base of pterostigma (Sc + RA). Radial posterior separates from RA at the base and can have three different number of bifurcations anterior to pterostigma, depending on the species ( Fig. 2D–F). Medial vein close to R at the base, forking into MA and MP at the same level of RP first bifurcation. Cubital vein forking into CuA and CuP near wing base. The CuA vein is forked, but the branches of CuA are never forked. Cubital posterior never forked. Anal veins usually simple, sometimes A2 with marginal forks; A3 coalescing with A2 before margin. One well defined series of gradate veins near posterior margin (outer gradate series of crossveins), sometimes two. Three crossveins between RA and RP ( Fig. 1A ). Presence of two, three or four crossveins between RP branches, depending on the number of RP bifurcations. Presence of three rp-ma cells, one ma–mp, three m-cu, one cu–cu, one cu-a and one a–a. Number of forks near posterior margin varies significantly intraspecifically and between left and right wing in the same specimen. Presence of trichosors.

Hind wing. Costal area not broad at the base, with 15 to near 20 simple crossveins between C and Sc. Margin with numerous setae. Radial posterior has three major branches in all species. Two crossveins between RA and RP ( Fig. 1B ), one between R1+2 and RP3, except for C. bimaculata , C. bifasciata and C. negrensis , one between RP3 and RP4. The CuA vein is forked but the branches of CuA are not forked, neither CuP nor A1 veins. Presence of three rp-ma, 1st rp-ma is sigmoidal, one ma–mp, one m-cu, cu–cu absent and one cu-a, usually one a–a. Presence of trichosors.

Legs. Presence of a line of long setae in profemur, usually with five setae ( Fig. 7E ). Two or three spine-like setae in posterior margin of tibia, and two in the posterior margin of each tarsomeres. Tibial spur sometimes present ( Fig. 7F ).

Male genitalia. Tergites and sternites with slight intraspecific variation. Gonocoxite 9 greatly varies in shape between species, and it can be projected or not, and when projected, it can be directed posteriad or ventrad. Hypandrium sometimes present in some male specimens. However, it is not possible to affirm if all species has this structure, because it can be easily lost during diaphonization. Presence of structures of the segment 10, which vary between species.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 7G ). It is composed by the tergite 9, which is modified to ventral portion and horizontal. The tergite 9 is articulated to the gonocoxite 9, which is vertical in relation to the body, with apex bent posteriad and sometimes forked. The ectoproct is small and placed over the tergite 9. The female genitalia vary between specimens of the same species, turning difficult to identify a species through features of these genitalia.

Immature ( Fig. 8A–D ). The larvae in general have just one tarsal claw, six ocelli, a needle-like mouthparts, and long setae throughout the body ( Needham and Betten 1901; Brown 1952; Parfin & Gurney 1956). The mandible and maxillae are separated, both like a “half-moon”, that when connected, forms the tube-like mouthpart, used to feed on the fluids of the prey ( Anthony 1902; Brown 1952). In the second and third instars, pairs of tracheal gills are present ventrally in the first seven abdominal segments ( Fig. 8B ) ( Brown 1952), each with three segments, except the first pair that has only two segments ( Anthony 1902). The pupal cocoon is double layered, and the outer layer is a mesh with hexagonal cells ( Fig. 8D ) and depending on the surface the hexagonal shape may not be perfectly built ( Needham and Betten 1901; Brown 1952; Parfin & Gurney 1956).

Figures

Fig. 6. Climacia McLachlan distribution map with focus on Nearctic and Neotropical regions.

Fig. 7. A–G. Scanning electron microscopy photographs of Climacia payaya sp. nov. structures. A, Dorsal view of head and prothorax, showing convex vertex and lack of epicranial suture. B, Triangular frons, with mouthparts in evidence on C–D. C, Anterior view of buccal appendages. D, Posterior view of mouthparts. E, Proleg, with five long setae on femur. F, Mesoleg, with tibial spur expanded. G, Female genitalia, lateral view. (Abbreviations: atp = anterior tentorial pit, cly = clypeus, cx = coxae, fm = femur, ga = galea, gx = gonocoxite, lac = lacinia, lbp = labial palp, lbr = labrum, md = mandibula, mxp = maxillary palp, ped = pedicel, S = Sternite, sc = scalpe, tb = tibia, tbs = tibial spur, tc = tarsal claw, ts = tarsus, T = Tergite, ve = vertex).

Fig. 1. A–B. Climacia McLachlan wing venation terminology, following Breitkreuz et al. (2017), with modification. A, Forewing. B, Hind wing. (Abbreviations: A = Anal, C = Costa, CuA = Cubital Anterior, CuP = Cubital Posterior, MA = Medial Anterior, MP = Medial Posterior, RA = Radial Anterior, RP = Radial Posterior, Sc = Subcosta).

Fig. 8. A–F. Development stages of Climacia McLachlan. A, 3rd instar larva, dorsal view. B, Same, but ventral view. C, Same, but lateral view. D, Two-layered cocoon of C. bimaculata Banks, 1913b, attached to a substrate. E, Climacia californica Chandler, 1953 male adult, photograph by Rachel Diaz-Bastin (CAS). F, Same, except female adult, photograph by Rachel Diaz-Bastin (CAS).