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We present a time‐calibrated phylogeny of the charismatic green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Previous phylogenetic studies on the family using DNA sequences have suffered from sparse taxon sampling and/or limited amounts of data. Here we combine all available previously published DNA sequence data and add to it new DNA sequences generated for this study. We analysed these data in a supermatrix using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods and provide a phylogenetic hypothesis for the family that recovers strong support for the monophyly of all subfamilies and resolves relationships among a large proportion of chrysopine genera. Chrysopinae tribes Leucochrysini and Belonopterygini were recovered as monophyletic sister clades, while the species‐rich tribe Chrysopini was rendered paraphyletic by Ankylopterygini. Relationships among the subfamilies were resolved, although with relatively low statistical support, and the topology varied based on the method of analysis. Greatest support was found for Apochrysinae as sister to Nothochrysinae and Chrysopinae, which is in contrast to traditional concepts that place Nothochrysinae as sister to the rest of the family. Divergence estimates suggest that the stem groups to the various subfamilies diverged during the Triassic‐Jurassic, and that stem groups of the chrysopine tribes diverged during the Cretaceous.

The National Research Foundation (NRF), the Research and Development funding body at the University of Pretoria and the JRS Biodiversity Foundation, U.S.A.

The first phylogeny of the lacewing family Osmylidae is presented here based on a total evidence analysis of DNA sequences for multiple gene loci and morphology for representatives of almost all extant genera. Our phylogeny shows a basal dichotomy in the family, with subfamilies Protosmylinae, Spilosmylinae and Gumillinae comprising one lineage, and the other lineage including Osmylinae, Porisminae, Eidoporisminae, Kempyninae and Stenosmylinae. The status of Paryphosmylus Kruger and Lysmus Navas as members of Protosmylinae is affirmed as well as the placement of Gumillinae near Protosmylinae and Spilosmylinae. Our results suggest that Porisminae, Eidoporisminae and Stenosmylinae evolved from a common ancestor, and their relationships, including likely paraphyly of Stenosmylinae, requires further assessment. Divergence time analysis revealed that the family originated during the Late Permian before the break-up of the supercontinent Pangaea and that present generic distributions are not due to Gondwanan biogeographic events. All major subfamily-level lineages were present by the end of the Triassic, in agreement with the rich Mesozoic-aged fossil record for the family.

The phylogeny of pleasing lacewings (Neuroptera: Dilaridae) is reconstructed for the first time based on morphological data using all fossil and extant genera. Accordingly, a revised generic classification of Dilaridae is proposed, with a new subfamily (i.e. Berothellinae subfam.n.) erected based on its remarkably different morphological features from the other dilarid subfamilies. A revision of all dilarid genera is presented, including descriptions of some little-known species from Asia and Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. New genera and species herein described include Berothella holzschuhi U. Aspock, Liu & H. Aspock, sp.n., Cretodilar burmanus Liu & Zhang, gen. et sp.n., Dilar cretaceus Liu & Zhang, sp.n., Neonallachius orientalis Liu, U. Aspock & H. Aspock, sp.n. and Neonallachius thailandicus Liu & Winterton, sp.n. Two new combinations, i.e. Neonallachius krooni (Minter, 1986), comb.n. and Neonallachius ponomarenkoi (Zakharenko, 1991), comb.n., are proposed. Evolutionary patterns of some important characters and the historical biogeography of Dilaridae are also discussed. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:68836312-FBDC-4F9F-8516-2365F44596BF.

The braconid subfamily Euphorinae is a large, cosmopolitan group of endoparasitoid wasps. The majority of species attack adult hosts, a strategy that is rare among parasitic wasps, but there are also many species that attack nymphs and larval stages. Euphorine hosts may belong to a variety of insect orders (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, Psocoptera, Orthoptera and Lepidoptera) although most euphorine tribes are confined to Coleoptera. Here we investigate the phylogenetic relationships of the Euphorinae based on molecular data (3 kb of nucleotide data from four markers: 18S, 28S, CAD and COI) and propose a higher-level classification based upon the resulting phylogeny. We also infer the evolution of host associations and discuss the diversification of the Euphorinae. Results from both Bayesian inference and maximum-likelihood analysis show that the subfamily, as previously circumscribed, is paraphyletic. We propose that the subfamily be expanded to include the tribes Meteorini and Planitorini (Mannokeraia + Planitorus), so that it corresponds to a clade that is strongly supported as monophyletic in our analyses. Based on our results, a revised higher classification of the Euphorinae is proposed, in which 52 extant genera and 14 tribes are recognized. We reinstate the genus Microctonus belonging to the tribe Perilitini, and synonymize Ussuraridelus with Holdawayella, Sinuatophorus with Eucosmophorus. Furthermore, we propose the following tribal rearrangements: Spathicopis and Stenothremma are transferred to Perilitini; Tuberidelus, Eucosmophorus and Plynops to Cosmophorini; Ecclitura to Dinocampini; Chrysopophthorus, Holdawayella and Wesmaelia to Helorimorphini; Proclithroporus and Heia to Townesilitini. The monotypic tribe Cryptoxilonini is synonymized with Cosmophorini. The genera Pygostolus and Litostolus are placed in a separate tribe, Pygostolini, previously recognized as a subtribe among the Centistini. Parsimony-based ancestral state reconstructions suggest that the ancestor of Euphorinae was a parasitoid of lepidopteran larvae, and that a host shift to larval Coleoptera occurred only in one clade of the Meteorini, some members of which secondarily shifted back to larval lepidopteran hosts. In the remainder of the subfamily, there was an initial shift from larval to adult coleopterans, followed by subsequent shifts to adults or larvae of Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera and Psocoptera.

A remarkable new genus and two new species of Mantispidae (Neuroptera) are described from the Oriental region. Allomantispa Liu, Wu, Winterton & Ohl gen.n., currently including A. tibetana Liu, Wu & Winterton sp.n. and A. mirimaculata Liu & Ohl sp.n. The new genus is placed in the subfamily Drepanicinae based on a series of morphological characteristics and on the results of total evidence phylogenetic analyses. Bayesian and Parsimony analyses were undertaken using three gene loci (CAD, 16S rDNA and COI) combined with 74 morphological characters from living and fossil exemplars of Mantispidae (17 genera), Rhachiberothidae (two genera) and Berothidae (five genera), with outgroup taxa from Dilaridae and Osmylidae. The resultant phylogeny presented here recovered a monophyletic Mantispidae with †Mesomantispinae sister to the rest of the family. Relationships among Mantispidae, Rhachiberothidae and Berothidae support Rhachiberothidae as a separate family sister to Mantispidae. Within Mantispidae, Drepanicinae are a monophyletic clade sister to Calomantispinae and Mantispinae. In a combined analysis, Allomantispa gen.n. was recovered in a clade comprising Ditaxis McLachlan from Australia, and two fossil genera from the Palaearctic, †Promantispa Panfilov (Kazakhstan; late Jurassic) and †Liassochrysa Ansorge & Schluter (Germany; Jurassic), suggesting a highly disjunct and relictual distribution for the family. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:464B06E8-47E6-482E-8136-83FE3B2E9D6B.

Parallel (or convergent) evolution of vibrational mating songs between species confined to different continents has been found several times in the Chrysoperla carnea species-group of cryptic (morphologically indistinguishable) green lacewings. Repeated parallel speciation resulting in taxa that differ in duetting songs but not in appearance or ecology suggests an atypical mode of speciation, one that need not involve ecological adaptation. Here we describe an additional example of convergent song phenotypes reflecting parallel nonadaptive speciation, between the common North American species Chrysoperla plorabunda (Fitch) and a newly discovered species that appears to be widespread in western Asia. To support the hypothesis of parallel evolution, we describe the song of the new species in detail, comparing it to that of C. plorabunda and demonstrate their acoustical similarity. Results of song playback trials are then presented, showing that the songs are also functionally (behaviourally) indistinguishable between individuals of both species and could not prevent hybridisation if the two species were sympatric. We demonstrate that the new species is very similar in morphology and ecology not only to C. plorabunda, but also to at least four other species in the carnea-group that co-occur with it in western Asia. To reject the alternative hypothesis that C. plorabunda and the new species are alike simply due to common ancestry, we show that they occupy relatively distant positions in a phylogenetic analysis of 4630 base pairs of protein-coding mitochondrial DNA. We then formally describe the new species as Chrysoperla heidarii sp.n., including with this description observations of its behaviour, ecology and life history. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:60C0FFC5-92B9-4C20-9FDF-561EB2764F16.

A new genus and species of antlion-like fossil lacewing, Guyiling jianbonigen. et sp.n. (Insecta: Neuroptera) are described based on a single specimen from the Yixian Formation (Liaoning Province, China; Early Cretaceous). The new taxon exhibits derived traits such as distally dilated antennae and well-developed anterior Banksian line (known in Myrmeleontidae), but also genuine plesiomorphies (at the level of Myrmeleontiformia), such as the divergence of a distinct CuA1 stem from MP2 + CuA1 (forewing), and a basal origin of MA (diverging from RP + MA; both wing pairs). This combination is unique among the ‘Palaeoleontidae’, a group better considered as a paraphyletic assemblage of various stem-Myrmeleontiformia. The wing morphology of the new species is considered in the light of a survey of wing venation topological homologies (and implied transformations) among several Neuroptera families. The survey includes a revision of the holotype of Leptolingia jurassica Ren (Grammolingiidae; Jiulongshan Formation, Daohugou locality, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China; middle Jurassic). The forewing morphology of Guyiling jianbonigen. et sp.n. demonstrates that the fusion of MP2 with CuA, and the differentiation of CuA into two distinct main stems (namely CuA1 and CuA2) are traits shared with Myrmeleontidae and Ascalaphidae (and possibly Nemopteridae). However, the survey also demonstrates that a fusion of MP2 with CuA occurred repeatedly among Neuropterida, although by means of various modalities (namely translocation vs regular fusion). The ‘pectinate fusion’ of CuA(1) with MP2 [i.e. CuA1 has no distinct stem and emits successive branches from MP2 + CuA(1) partim] is a further step in this fusion, and occurred repeatedly as well (at least in the hind wings of Osmylidae and Nymphidae, and both fore- and hindwings of a sub-group of Myrmeleontiformia including Myrmeleontidae and Ascalaphidae, and possibly Nemopteridae). It is anticipated that the current contribution will constitute useful background information for further studies, focusing on particular transformation cases, ideally including a documentation of intraspecific variation.

The first phylogenetic analysis of the genus Thyridosmylus Kruger is presented. All species from China were scored in a morphological analysis, along with extralimital species from India (Thyridosmylus pustulatus Kimmins) and Madagascar (Thyridosmylus marmoratus Fraser), and were compared with out-group exemplars from Spilosmylus Kolbe, Thaumatosmylus Kruger and Osmylus Latreille. A monophyletic Thyridosmylus sister to Spilosmylus is confirmed based on this analysis, with the Malagasy Thyridosmylus marmoratus as sister to the Oriental Thyridosmylus species. Based on the results of this analysis, the biogeography of world Thyridosmylus is discussed. It is proposed that the genus originated in Gondwana no later than the Late Cretaceous (88 Ma) before the break-up of the Madagascar–India continent. A new species, Thyridosmylus paralangiisp.n., is described from Guangxi Province, whereas two species [Thyridosmylus langii (McLachlan) and Thyridosmylus perspicillaris minor Kimmins] are recorded from China for the first time. Four synonyms are identified: Thyridosmylus laetus Yang et al.syn.n., Thyridosmylus similaminor Yang syn.n., Thyridosmylus vulgatus Yang syn.n. and Thyridosmylus mimoroides Yang syn.n. A key to the species of the world is provided.

Neuropterida comprise the holometabolan orders Neuroptera (lacewings, antlions and relatives), Megaloptera (alderflies, dobsonflies) and Raphidioptera (snakeflies) as a monophyletic group sister to Coleoptera (beetles). The higher-level phylogenetic relationships among these groups, as well as the family-level hierarchy of Neuroptera, have to date proved difficult to reconstruct. We used morphological data and multi-locus DNA sequence data to infer Neuropterida relationships. Nucleotide sequences were obtained for fragments of two nuclear genes (CAD, 18S rDNA) and two mitochondrial genes (COI, 16S rDNA) for 69 exemplars representing all recently recognized families of Neuropterida as well as outgroup exemplars from Coleoptera. The joint posterior probability of phylogeny and divergence times was estimated using a Bayesian relaxed-clock inference method to establish a temporal sequence of cladogenesis for the group over geological time. Megaloptera were found to be paraphyletic with respect to the rest of Neuropterida, calling into question the validity of the ordinal status for Megaloptera as presently defined. Ordinal relationships were weakly supported, and monophyly of Megaloptera was not recovered in any total-evidence analysis; Corydalidae were frequently recovered as sister to Raphidioptera. Only in relaxed-clock inferences were Raphidioptera and a paraphyletic Megaloptera recovered with strong support as a monophyletic group sister to Neuroptera. A monophyletic Neuroptera diverged from a common Raphidioptera + ‘Megaloptera’ ancestor during the Late Carboniferous. Contrary to some previous hypotheses, Coniopterygidae, not Nevrorthidae, were recovered as sister to the rest of Neuroptera, with Nevrorthidae recovered with Osmylidae and Sisyridae. The monophyly of the universally recognized Myrmeleontiformia was confirmed, with an origin in the mid-Triassic, but a monophyletic Hemerobiiformia was not recovered in any analysis. Dilaridae were not closely related to the clade comprising Mantispidae and Berothidae, and diverged earlier than proposed previously. The phylogenetic status and taxonomic composition of Polystoechotidae and Ithonidae are in need of re-evaluation, as Oliarces Carpenter (presently Ithonidae) was placed well within the present circumscription of Polystoechotidae

In a first molecular approach specially dedicated to examining the phylogeny of the Neuropterida, two nuclear and two mitochondrial genes were tested: 18S rRNA, translation elongation factor-1a, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 and 16S rRNA. Molecular results are discussed in the light of a previous holomorphological cladistic analysis. The hypothesis of a sister-group relationship Raphidioptera þ (Neuroptera þ Megaloptera) put forward in recent morpho- logical analyses is supported by our data, which is in contrast to the traditional view (Raphidioptera þ Megaloptera) þ Neuroptera. Furthermore, the Nevrorthidae (constituting the suborder Nevrorthiformia) as a sister group of all other Neur- optera is confirmed. The disruption of the suborder Hemerobiiformia is the most conflicting result of the molecular analysis. Sisyridae and Osmylidae do not cluster within Hemerobiiformia, but represent two distinct and widely separated branches. The remaining Hemerobiiformia emerge as the sister group of the suborder Myrmeleontiformia, which is once more confirmed as monophyletic. Among the genes tested, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 proved to be most potent for resolving the phylogenetic relationships among Neuropterida. The nuclear gene for the ribosomal 18S rRNA is too conserved within the alignable regions, whereas the variable sections are too divergent to be applicable within this evolu- tionary time frame. The elongation factor-1a gene proved to exist in more than one copy in Neuropterida, and thus is not applicable in the present state of knowledge. With respect to the mitochondrial sequences (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3, 16S rRNA), saturation impedes the unambiguous resolution of deeper nodes. Apparently, due to early diversification of the heterogeneous Neuroptera, phylogenetic analysis of this group remains a challenge with respect to selection of the proper genes and mutatis mutandis the morphological approach.

A fifth European member of the Holarctic carnea sibling species group, Chrysoperla agilis, sp.n. is described. This species was initially recognized because of its unique song phenotype. Both sexes produce one type of song, characterized by a single very long volley averaging 4.5 s in duration and repeated every 9.5 s. The unit of exchange during heterosexual duets (the shortest repeated unit) is the single volley. The carrier frequency is upwardly, then downwardly, modulated during each volley. The maximum frequency is higher (around 110 Hz) than in other members of the carnea group. Each volley ends with an audible, percussive ‘rattle’. Song features vary only slightly over a large geographical range that extends from northern Iran westward to the Azores and northward to southern Switzerland. Discriminant function analysis confirms the uniqueness of the C. agilis song in comparison with nine other song species. Morphologically, the adult of C. agilis is very similar to C. carnea and C. pallida and is generally intermediate between them with respect to the size of the pretarsal basal dilation, the shape of the genital lip and chin, the colour and type of setae on the abdomen, and colour markings on the head and mouthparts. No single feature will distinguish C. agilis from either C. carnea or C. pallida, but a suite of physical attributes can be used with reasonable success. Larval morphology fails to distinguish clearly C. agilis from other song species. Ecologically, C. agilis shares an affinity for low vegetation with C. lucasina and C. carnea, and a preference for milder, Mediterranean climates with C. mediterranea. Adults undergo a colour change to pale yellowish brown during winter diapause, and eggs are laid singly rather than in groups. Based on its ecological characteristics, C. agilis may prove to be an effective agent of biological control in the agricultural fields of warmer, drier parts of southern Europe and the Middle East, where other members of the carnea group are less common or absent.

Summary A phylogenetic analysis of Neuroptera using thirty-six predominantly morphological characters of adults and larvae is presented. This is the first computerized cladistic analysis at the ordinal level. It included nineteen species representing seventeen families of Neuroptera, three species representing two families (Sialidae and both subfamilies of Corydalidae) of Megaloptera, two species representing two families of Raphidioptera and as prime outgroup one species of a family of Coleoptera. Ten equally most parsimonious cladograms were found, of which one is selected and presented in detail. The results are discussed in light of recent results from mental phylogenetic cladograms. The suborders Nevrorthi- formia, Myrmeleontiformia and Hemerobiiformia received strong support, however Nevrorthiformia formed the adelphotaxon of Myrmeleontiformia + Hemerobiiformia (former sister group of Myrmeleontiformia only). In Myrmeleontiformia, the sister-group relationships between Psychopsidae + Nemopteridae and Nymphidae + (Myrmeleontidae + Ascalaphidae) are corroborated. In Hemerobiiformia, Ithonidae + Polystoechotidae is confirmed as the sister group of the remaining families. Dilaridae + (Mantispidae + (Rhachiberothidae + Berothidae)), which has already been proposed, is confirmed. Chrysopidae + Osmylidae emerged as the sister group of a clade comprising Hemerobiidae + ((Coniopterygidae + Sisyridae) + (dilarid clade)). Despite the sister-group relationship of Coniopterygidae + Sisyridae being only weakly supported, the position of Coniopterygidae within the higher Hemerobiiformia is corroborated. At the ordinal level, the analysis provided clear support for the hypothesis that Megaloptera + Neuroptera are sister groups, which upsets the conventional Megaloptera + Raphidioptera hypothesis.

Summary The Holarctic carnea-group of Chrysoperla green lacewings consists of numerous cryptic, sibling species, distinguished principally by vibrational courtship songs. A European member of this species-group, C. mediterranea (Holzel), was originally diagnosed by its dark green coloration, red band across the front of the head, narrow wings, minute basal dilation of the pretarsus and ecological association with pines. Here we describe its courtship and mating song, which uniquely distinguishes the species from all other members of the carnea-group in Europe. Males and females both produce a single type of song, characterized by a long train of short, closely spaced volleys and nearly constant carrier frequency. Measured song features are nearly invariant across a large geographical range that extends well outside that previously known for C. mediterranea. Principal components analysis confirms the uniqueness of the mediterranea song in comparison with five other sympatric song species of the carnea-group. Populations which show the mediterranea song phenotype do not necessarily retain all of the traditional morphological features of the species, particularly in eastern parts of the range. Specifically, the green coloration may be less intense, the wings broader and the pretarsal basal dilation larger, resulting in significant morphological overlap with other song species. Larval morphology and ecophysiology also fail to distinguish C. mediterranea from other song species. Based on unique song phenotype, however, we conclude that C. mediterranea is a valid biological species, which can also be recognized in museum collections when a suite of physical attributes is used.

A new flightless hemerobiid species, Nusalala brachyptera, collected at high elevation in Costa Rica, is described and illustrated, and a variety of data relevant to the evolution of flightlessness in the family Hemerobiidae are reviewed. Flightlessness due to brachyptery has evolved independently in at least five monophyletic [= holophyletic] lineages of the family Hemerobiidae (brown lacewings). Volant hemerobiids are primarily foliage foraging arboreal predators [presumed ancestral condition], while flightless species are predominantly associated with terricolous-type microhabitats (e.g. ground-litter, epiphytic mosses) [presumed derived condition]. These differences suggest a significant habitat shift for flightless hemerobiid species, and that the parallel evolution of flightlessness and brachyptery in hemerobiids are shared responses to the conditions of a terricolous existence. The restriction of most flightless hemerobiid species to insular and/or montane/alpine land areas may be related to the typically depauperate nature of the faunas of such areas. This faunal characteristic may facilitate transitions from arboreality to terricolousness by presenting ancestrally arboreal predators such as hemerobiids with novel ecological opportunities in terricolous microhabitats.

The existence of cryptic, sibling species, distinguished principally by vibrational courtship songs, has been confirmed for the carnea-group of Chrysoperla green lacewings in Europe and western Asia. One member of this species-group, C.lucasina (Lacroix), is characterized by several morphological traits as well, but its taxonomic validity has been considered uncertain due to the subtle and variable nature of those traits. Here, we describe the calling and courtship songs of C.lucasina, which uniquely distinguish that taxon from all other members of the carnea-group in Europe. The male of C.lucasina produces two slightly but consistently different types of songs, one while calling and the other while dueting with a female. The female produces just one type of song, identical to the male’s calling song, which is used for both calling and dueting. Measured features of the songs of C.lucasina are nearly invariant over a broad geographical area, from the Canary Islands to Cyprus and from northern Africa to the U.K. Similarly, at least one morphological feature, the presence of a dark stripe on the pleuron of the second abdominal segment, characterizes all adult individuals identified acoustically as C.lucasina. Furthermore, larval head markings vary little among different populations of the song species. We conclude that C.lucasina is a valid biological species, which can also be recognized in museum collections by a suite of morphological attributes. We also briefly compare the songs and adult morphology of C.lucasina with five other currently unnamed song species of the carnea-group whose geographic ranges overlap extensively with it.

The subfamily Rhachiberothinae Tjeder, 1959, originally included in the Berothidae and recently transferred to the Mantispidae, is revised and elevated to family rank. A historical review and redescriptions of the family Rhachiberothidae stat.n. and of the genera Rhachiberotha Tjeder, 1959, and Mucroberotha Tjeder, 1959, are presented. Five new species, R.ingwe, R.sheilae, M.aethiopica, M.angolana and M.minted, are described and differentiated from the five hitherto-known species. The hypothesis of a sister-group relationship of the Rhachiberothidae to the Berothidae is re-established. The phylogenetic position of the Dilaridae as an adelphotaxon of the monophyletic group ([Rhachiberothidae + Berothidae] + Mantispidae) is discussed.

Biramus lunatus gen.n., sp.n. is described from Venezuela. This species is of special phylogenetic interest as it is the sister-group of the subfamily Hemerobiinae (sensu Oswald, 1993), which previously contained four genera (Hemerobiella, Hemerobius, Nesobiella and Wesmaelius) and approximately 200 of the c. 550 world hemerobiid species. The conformation of the forewing radius in Biramus is especially interesting and provides a test case for distinguishing parallel evolution among forewing radial vein states within the Hemerobiidae.

Pamexis Hagen, 1866, is revised. Myrmeleon luteum Thunberg is designated as type species. A key is provided for the five species comprising the genus. Pamexis luteus (Thunberg, 1784), P.bifasciatus (Olivier, 1811) and P.contaminatus (Hagen, 1887) are redescribed: P.karoo and P.namaqua are new species. All are endemic to the Cape Province of South Africa.

The Rhachiberothinae, hitherto regarded as belonging to the Berothidae, are shown to be Mantispidae. They form the sister-group of the Symphrasinae + Drepanicinae + Calomantispinae + Mantispinae. Within the Symphrasinae, Trichoscelia is the sister-taxon of Anchieta + Plega. The raptorial fore legs of the Rhachiberothinae and the remaining Mantispidae, sometimes considered the result of convergent evolution, are one of their synapomorphies. The former inclusion of the Rhachiberothinae in the Berothidae was primarily based on symplesiomorphies; the Berothidae without the Rhachiberothinae are monophyletic.

An unusual species of spoon-wing lacewing, Palmipenna aeoleoptera sp.n., is described from Namaqualand, South Africa. This small species is similar to its three congeners in general body morphology and genitalic features. Its hindwings, however, differ dramatically from known insect hindwing form. These conspicuously pigmented wings with their relatively huge surface area are hypothesized to have dual aerodynamic and semaphore functions when used by males in gliding flight during mate attraction.

The egg, oviruptor and first instar larva of Osmylops sejunctus (Walker) are described and figures. Karval features of possible phylogenetic value are discussed, and the larva is compared with that of Nymphes leach, the only other nymphid for which information is available.

Individuals of Chrysoperla curnea (Stephens) from central Europe exhibit courtship songs that are radically different from those of nearctic members of the same species. Additionally, the two geographically distinct populations will not hybridize under laboratory conditions. It is likely, therefore, that the two song morphs are distinct, sibling species; consequently Chrysoperla plorabunda (Fitch) is raised from synonymy, to include New World specimens formerly placed in C.camea. Within the nearctic region, other plorabunda-like individuals have been found to possess uniquely different calls, suggesting that the carnea-plorabunda complex may in fact consist of numerous morphologically indistinguishable species.

The external morphology and habits of the larval instars of the Central American ascalaphid Byas albistigma (Walker) are described for the first time, and its eggs and repagula (abortive eggs) are compared to those of a Brazilian Byas sp. described by New (1971). In most respects, all immature stages of Byas are shown to be much like those of another neuroptyngine (entire-eyed) owlfly, Ascaloptynx furciger (McLachlan). However, larvae of Byas are arboreal rather than terrestrial and possess a number of important morphological characters that are more primitive than those seen in Ascaloptynx Shared features of the two genera that may constitute the ground plan of the Neuroptynginae are discussed in some detail and are weighted according to their primitive or derived status.

The three larval stages of the sole species of Norfolius Navas, N.howensis (Tillyard), are described and figured. Features of possible phylogenetic value are discussed in relation to other known nymphid larvae, and differences between instars are appraised for the first time in the family.

A new genus of Stenosmylinae, Carinosmylusgen.n., is described from south-eastern Australia. The single included species, C.durussp.n., is an apparently advanced form allied to Stenosmylus Kriiger and Stenolysmus Kimmins, but shows more extensive fusion and elaboration of the posterior abdominal segments. A key to stenosmyline genera is provided.

The genus Cymothales Gerstaecker (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) is revised. Seventeen species are recognized, all from the Afrotropical Region, including eleven from southern Africa. A key, and redescriptions or diagnoses are provided for all species. Cymothales tjederi, C.exilis, C.marginatus and C.cybele are new species. The genus Mironus Navas is synonymized, as are C.annisancti Navas, C.berlandi Navas and C.hermosa Banks. Cymothales capensis is the new name for C.speciosus Navas nee. Kolbe. C.delicatus Banks, C.theresae Lacroix and C.lestagei Lacroix are not Cymothales but are included as unplaced species. The tree-hole dwelling larva of C.eccentros (Walker) is described.

The rare neuropteran family Rapismatidae, known only from the highlands of India and Nepal, S.E. Asia and Indonesia, is reviewed, and the affinities of the family are discussed. Nine species are recognized, of which seven are here described as new: two new synonymies are established.

The Afrotropical lacewing subgenus Ceratochrysa Tjeder is raised to full generic status on the basis of several unique characters which make it one of the most distinctive genera in the tribe Chrysopini. Its distribution is extended to include Madagascar and Mauritius, and the genus seems most closely related to the Oriental and Pacific Chrysopa oceanica-group. Only four of the thirteen nominal species are recognized as valid, and eight new synonyms are established. The larva of one species is a predator on the cassava mealybug in S.E. Nigeria; this is the first description of the larva of an endemic African chrysopid genus.