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Ctenochauliodes van der Weele is an oriental endemic fishfly genus (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Chauliodinae), currently with 13 species. Here, we report a new species of Ctenochauliodes, namely Ctenochauliodes denticulatus sp. nov., from central Vietnam. The new species is featured by the specialised male gonocoxites 11, which bear a pair of robust, clavate gonostyli 11. An updated key to the species of Ctenochauliodes is also given.

This study presents new data on the lacewing fauna of Saudi Arabia based on field work performed between 2014 and 2019. Sixty-one lacewing species from 37 genera and seven Neuroptera families were documented. Additionally, two species belonging to Dielocroce and Pseudomallada were identified only to genus level. Three of the identified species are new records to Saudi Arabia (Aspoeckiella gallagheri Hölzel, 2004, Bankisus maculosus Hölzel, 1983, and Nemoleon secundus Hölzel, 2002). Another three species are new to the fauna of the Arabian Peninsula (Mantispa aphavexelte Aspöck & Aspöck, 1994, Omoleon jeanneli Navás, 1936, and Stylascalaphus krueperi van der Weele, 1909). The first reports of eight species are provided after their original description from Saudi Arabia; namely, Creoleon ultimus Hölzel, 983, Cueta amseli Hölzel, 1982, Cu. asirica Hölzel, 1982, Distoleon asiricus Hölzel, 1983, Geyria pallida Hölzel, 1983, Neuroleon delicatus Hölzel, 1983, N. virgineus Hölzel, 1983 and Solter buettikeri Hölzel, 1982 Zoogeographically, most lacewing species documented in the Arabian Peninsula are endemic (26.2%), followed by Afro-syroeremic (23.0%), Afrotropical (18.0%), and Afro-syro-iranoeremic (14.8%) species. Palaearctic species (4.9%) had the lowest contribution.

Two Hundreds & Two Noughts. In the first twenty years of the publication of Zootaxa, more than two hundred papers have appeared in this journal that address the Neuropterida, which collectively includes the [Neuroptera+Raphidioptera]+Megaloptera sections (initially “Minor orders” section). A dozen submitted manuscripts were rejected before the review process, and another dozen submissions were rejected following the peer review process. Additional content and general submission history of these contributions is summarized here. These various contributions highlight the growing body of research on the Neuropterida and the importance of Zootaxa as a key journal for publishing and disseminating this research.

The presence of Fibla maclachlani (Albarda, 1891) (Raphidioptera, Inocelliidae) has been recorded in Tuscany (central Italy) since 2005 according to information derived from both a biodiversity survey project and citizen science activities. The species, whose natural distribution includes the three main islands of central Mediterranean--Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily--was most likely introduced into Tuscany through the raw cork trade from Sardinia. Further molecular comparative analyses are needed to confirm this hypothesis. This would be the first case of human-mediated jump dispersal in this family and a rare example of upstream colonization from island to continent. Two isolated records of F. maclachlani, an old (1905) and a very recent one (2018), are also reported from Calabria. The presence of F. maclachlani in Calabria remains unclear, the most reliable hypotheses are either the natural presence of the species at low population density or its introduction from Sicily at some point. The non-native populations of F. maclachlani currently coexist in the Italian peninsula in sympatry with the native inocelliid Parainocellia bicolor (A. Costa, 1855), a condition otherwise unknown among European species of this family. Future interactions between the two species are unpredictable.

Apricot is one of the least sensitive stone fruit to aphids, but infestations of the mealy plum aphid may commercially damage fruits ready to harvest. Management of aphid infestations in organic orchard should also consider enhancing beneficial insects and limiting aphid species hard to control (wax-protected aphids). Green lacewings management through lures should represent a potential way to enhance the efficiency of this generalist predator against aphids. To evaluate this strategy, tests were performed in the frame of the P.O.N. BRIMET project (cod. MIUR 12929), between 2005 and 2007, in organic orchards in Southern Italy, near Nova Siri Marina (MT). Experimental design was used to assess attractiveness of a mixture of phenylacetaldehyde, methylsalicylate and acetic acid, and to evaluate the influence on oviposition of green lacewings. The experimental field was parcelled out into two similar lots, one of which with the lure in the central area. Trials on apricot were compared to the results obtained in peach orchards of the Centro di Ricerca per la Frutticoltura, near Rome. Results prove the attractiveness of this chemical lure towards Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens), but with a slight increase of oviposition in the apricot parcel with tested substances through the years. Only in 2007 we could measure an evident increase of oviposition on apricot trees. Better results were achieved on peach orchard where we could notice a more complex entomofauna. On apricot, the aphid presence can be assumed as a key factor for lacewings oviposition, and the presence of this lure as a secondary factor for a higher oviposition rate. Further basic researches on lacewings oviposition strategies are evidenced; moreover, an on-time application of lures upon the early symptoms of aphid infestations could represent the best application strategies to enhance natural population of lacewings on field.

Quantitative surveys of the chrysopid fauna from southwestern Europe, namely the Iberian and Italian peninsulas, France south of 46° N, and the west-Mediterranean Islands, were analysed. A total of 56 species of Chrysopidae were reported, of which three species were abundant. These, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens, 1836) sensu lato, Dichochrysa prasina (Burmeister, 1839) and D. flavifrons (Brauer, 1850), comprised a large percentage of the specimens. For the rarer species, comments are made on their distributions, the enhanced geographic range of exotic ones, and on levels of endemism and stenotopy.

Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names of all living European land and freshwater animals, their geographical distribution at country level (up to the Urals, excluding the Caucasus region), and some additional information. The Fauna Europaea project covers about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies, which is much more than the originally projected number of 100,000 species. This represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many users in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education. For Neuropterida, data from three Insect orders (Raphidioptera, Megaloptera, Neuroptera), comprising 15 families and 397 species, are included.

Keywords. Neuroptera, Chrysopidae, Chrysoperla, green lacewings, attractant, phenylacetaldehyde Abstract. At five sites in Hungary and Italy, traps baited with phenylacetaldehyde caught significantly higher numbers (10 to 100 times more) of green lacewings than unbaited traps, which demonstrates that this compound is an attractant. Traps with three bait dispensers usually caught more than those with one dispenser, but the difference was significant only at two out of five test sites. There was no difference in the numbers caught by sticky delta and funnel traps baited with phenylacetaldehyde. However, funnel traps could be adapted to catch living green lacewings. The vast majority of the specimens belonged to the Chrysoperla carnea spe- cies complex. Ch. carnea sensu lato dominated the catches at all sites. At some sites 3-11% of the insects caught were Ch. lucasina Lacroix. Phenylacetaldehyde-baited traps were attractive to both sexes, but generally more females were caught than males. Funnel traps baited with three dispensers of phenylacetaldehyde caught green lacewing adults throughout the season in Hungary.

Faunal data concerning 4 poorly known species from Southern Mozambique are reported. Myrmeleon lanceolatus Rambur, 1842 is reported for the first time from Mozambique.

Spermatozoa from members of Hemerobiidae, Chrysopidae and Mantispidae (Arthropoda; Hexapoda: Neuroptera) have been examined by electron microscopy. In all species examined, the nucleus is surrounded by a nuclear envelope that in its anterior domain, fans out laterally into one (Chrysopidae) or two wings (Hemerobiidae and Mantispidae). Furthermore, the anterior sperm region is surrounded by external dense material. In Mantispidae, sperm dimorphism with two types of spermatozoa is also confirmed: paraspermatozoa (not fertilizing), provided with giant axoneme and mitochondrial derivatives, and euspermatozoa (fertilizing). Spermatozoa of Chrysopidae and Mantispidae are characterized by the lack of an acrosome while sperm cells of Hemerobiidae are provided with a bilayered acrosome. Spermatozoa from all the investigated species have axonemes of the conventional insect type, with a 9+9+2 microtubular pattern and with accessory tubules provided with 16 protofilaments. In all the examined taxa the intertubular material has the same localization also observed in all other previously analysed Neuroptera. The mitochondrial derivatives and the accessory bodies in the three families are also described. Hemerobiidae are characterized by the presence of a large groove of the plasma membrane along the right side of the anterior sperm region, which results in an eccentric position of the axoneme. Chrysopidae have large mitochondrial derivatives, which encircle the axoneme. The peculiar feature regarding the nuclear envelope was not seen in other members of neuropteroid insects. These data are discussed in the light of the phylogenetic relationships of the taxa examined.

In field trapping tests, the catch of Chrysoperla carnea sensu lato (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) increased when acetic acid was added to lures with phenylacetaldehyde. The addition of methyl salicylate to the binary mixture of phenylacetaldehyde plus acetic acid increased catches even further. The ternary blend proved to be more attractive than beta-caryophyllene, 2-phenylethanol, or 3-methyl eugenol (compounds previously described as attractants for chrysopids) on their own, and no influence on catches was recorded when these compounds were added as fourth components to the ternary blend. There were minimal changes in activity when (E)-cinnamaldehyde or methyl anthranylate (both evoking large responses from female or male antennae of C. carnea in this study) were added, although both compounds showed significant attraction on their own when compared to unbaited traps. In subtractive field bioassays with the ternary mixture, it appeared that the presence of either phenylacetaldehyde or methyl salicylate was important, whereas acetic acid was less so in the ternary mixture. The ternary blend attracted both female and male lacewings at sites in southern, central, and northern Europe. Possible applications of a synthetic attractant for lacewings are discussed.