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Sisyra Burmeister, 1839 is cosmopolitan and the most specious genus of Sisyridae (spongillaflies). Hitherto, there has been only five species of Sisyra recorded from China. Here we present a taxonomic revision of the Chinese species of Sisyra. In total, six valid Sisyra species are reported from China. A new species, Sisyra bowlesi sp. n., is described from China, Laos and Vietnam. Sisyra indica Needham, 1909, S. nikkoana (Navás, 1910) and S. terminalis Curtis, 1854 are firstly recorded from China. Besides, two species from Hainan Island, S. hainana Yang and Gao, 2002 syn. n. and S. nervata Yang and Gao, 2002 syn. n., are herein synonymised with S. indica Needham, 1909; S. aurorae Navás, 1933 syn. n., recorded from eastern China, is synonymised with S. nikkoana (Navás, 1910) known from Japan, Korea and Russian Far East. New provincial records of S. curvata Yang and Gao, 2002 and S. yunana Yang, 1986 from China are added. A key to Sisyra species from Asia is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antlion species Myrmeleon trigonois Bao & Wang, 2006 is endemic to Chinese mainland; it has pronotum with a pair of pale yellow spots, and modifi ed ectoproct, forming a hook-like projection posteroventrally. Based on morphological comparison and molecular evidence, we found that all paratypes of M. trigonois represent a diff erent species than its holotype. Here, Myrmeleon shalulianus Zheng & Liu, sp. nov., is described to accommodate all paratypes of M. trigonois and a series of newly supplemented specimens from Yunnan (China). The distribution pattern of these two species is clarifi ed. Larvae of both M. trigonois and M. shalulianus sp. nov. are described and compared. Furthermore, the bee fl y parasitoid (Diptera: Bombyliidae) of the genus Taiwanon Evenhuis, 2018 was reared from the immature stages of M. trigonois in an artifi cial environment. Taiwanon is newly recorded from the Chinese mainland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Most of the body and wings of mature adults of most species of dustywings (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) are covered with a superficial coating of pale waxy particles. This white-to-gray waxy 'dust'—from which the common name of the family derives—is secreted onto the outside of the body by wax glands that open on the head, thorax, and abdomen. Each gland opening produces a pair of tiny, curled wax filaments, which eventually break off as minute wax rings. The rings are subsequently distributed across most of the body and wing surfaces by the insect's legs. Within the order Neuroptera, coniopterygids are unique in this form and use of waxy compounds, and it constitutes a distinctive shared feature of species in the subfamilies Aleurop-teryginae and Coniopteryginae (wax glands are apparently absent in the subfamily Brucheiserinae). Despite the interesting adaptive features that this system implies, wax production and its associated morphological features and behaviors are poorly known and rarely studied. In this paper, we examine the comparative morphology of wax gland head ultrastructure in 2 subfamilies, 9 genera, and 28 species of dustywings—the most diverse sample of dustywing taxa examined to date for this morphological feature. We report similarities and differences among the examined taxa and identify ultrastructural characters useful for taxonomic and phylogenetic differentiation at higher levels within the family. In the largest comparative study of coniopterygid wax gland head morphology to date, we used scanning electron microscopy to illustrate the ultrastructure of gland heads found in 2 subfamilies (Aleuropteryginae and Coniopteryginae), 5 tribes (Aleuropterygini, Coniocompsini, Coniopterygini, Conwentziini, and Fontenelleini), 9 genera (Aleuropteryx, Coniopteryx, Coniocompsa, Conwentzia, Cryptoscenea, Heteroconis, Semidalis, Spiloconis, and Thecosemidalis), and 28 species of Palearctic and Oriental dustywings collected from a variety of sites across China. We propose a new descriptive terminology to concisely characterize the major elements of gland head ultrastructure and then identify similarities and differences among them and provide detailed descriptions of the wax gland heads found in each of the nine genera examined. Based on the range of taxa examined, we propose hypotheses about the functional morphology of some of the ultrastructural elements examined and relate them to wax ring formation in dustywings. An identification key for the examined genera based on gland head morphology is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Osmylopsychopidae, an extinct family of Neuroptera, is closely related to the extant Psychopsidae. The sporadic records of this family and limited preservation of fossil specimens have hindered the understanding of the evolution of Osmylopsychopidae. In this paper, one new genus with four new species of Osmylopsychopidae are described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of northeastern China. These newly discovered osmylopsychopids with a forewing length of ca. 10 mm (implying small body size), clearly distinguished from the traditional sense of Osmylopsychopidae, suggest that Osmylopsychopidae possibly underwent a significant diversification during the Mesozoic. One new genus with four new species sharing the similar character of a forewing length of ca. 10 mm, namely, Minipsychops spasulus gen. et sp. nov., Minipsychops polychotomus sp. nov., Minipsychops densus sp. nov., and Minipsychops unicus sp. nov., are described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia in China. These new insects can be attributed to Osmylopsychopidae for their distinctive configuration of costal space and the venations of RP1 and Cu. Compared with the typically medium to large body sizes of known osmylopsychopids, these new Middle Jurassic taxa of a particularly miniaturized lineage not only enrich the species diversity of Osmylopsychopidae, but also enhance our understanding of the historical evolution of these poorly known lacewings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the accumulation of energy substances, dynamics of flight muscle development, changes in energy substances accumulation, and flight muscle structure after flight activities in female adults of the green lacewing Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder), a common natural enemy of various insect pests in China. Virgin individuals were chosen at 24, 72, and 120 h after eclosion for energy substance determination and flight muscle observation in this study. Individuals with strong flight ability at 72 h after eclosion were selected for tethered flight assays, followed by detection of energy substances, and flight muscle observation. The results showed that virgin female adults had the highest fat content 72 h after eclosion. Sarcomere length and myofibril diameter changed significantly with age, with the lowest at 24 h after eclosion. With an increase in flight distance, the fat and glycogen contents, sarcomere length, and volume fraction of the transverse tubular system (T-system) decreased and myofibril diameters increased. The volume fraction of the mitochondria did not significantly change, but the structure of the mitochondrial membrane was destroyed, inclusions were reduced, and cavities appeared. The reserves of energy substances, especially lipids, are closely related to the flight ability of C. sinica. The observational results of both flight muscle structure and morphology of mitochondria build a strong relationship with flight behavior. This research should help reveal the regulatory mechanism of flight activity of C. sinica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropterans seem to be less specious among holometabolans, while they are in fact the relicts of a diverse group from the Mesozoic era. Their early radiation resulted in great family level morphological heterogeneity of extant neuropterans, especially of their larvae. The earliest previously reported fossil larvae of this group were from the Early Cretaceous, where they already showed high taxonomic diversity and an extremely wide range of variations in morphotypes. In this work, the earliest record of the larva of the neuropteran Palaeoneurorthus baii gen. et sp. nov. from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou Beds of China is described. The larvae, which have large and elongated bodies, straight stylets with curved apices, an extremely elongated cervix and an extended anterior lobe of pronotum, are placed in Nevrorthidae. The elongated cervix is probably a specialized adaptation for hunting small organisms. The palaeoenvironment of these larvae indicates that larvae of Nevrorthidae have exhibited stable aquatic ecology since the Middle Jurassic, and underwent a possible shift from lakes to more lotic yet constricted modern mountain rivulet habitats over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The genus Ogcogaster Westwood, 1847, which is endemic to the Oriental Region and contains only five species, has been recorded in India and Pakistan, but not in China. The genus was not sampled in any previous study on the phylogeny of Neuroptera and its affinity within Ascalaphinae is unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Neuropterida is a relatively primitive group of Holometabola including about 6500 extant species. Many species of this group are natural enemies and can prey on a variety of agricultural pests. This research analyzed the relevant literature in the core database of Web of Science by using CiteSpace, and then summarized the beginning and development of the research in the field of Neuropterida. The results showed that the United States and China had the most publications on the Neuropterida and were the main countries for research. These two countries have had the most productive authors and institutions. Representative institutions for research on natural enemies of Neuropterida included the China Agricultural University and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Due to the late start of Neuropterida research in China, the early research focused on practical applications. In addition, there is more cross-research in the fields of agriculture and biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry, etc., indicating that the research of Neuropterida can be covered from the macroscopic study to the microscopic study. In addition, it was found that the early research focused on the biological control of Neuropterida by analyzing the keyword burst, whereas the current research has focused on the phylogeny of Neuropterida more. Neuropterida is a relatively primitive group of Holometabola. There are about 6500 extant species. Many species of this group are natural enemies and can prey on a variety of agricultural pests. In order to understand the leading research institutions, researchers and research contents, and to predict the future research directions of Neuropterida, the Web of Science core database, from January 1995 to September 2021, was searched with the theme of "Neuropterida or Neuroptera or Megaloptera or Raphidioptera or Lacewing". The results showed that the United States and China published relatively more publications than other countries. In addition, researchers from these two countries had more cooperation with other countries. China Agricultural University ranked the highest in the number of publications and centrality in this field. In addition, it was found that the early research focused on the biological control of Neuropterida by analyzing the keyword burst, whereas the more recent research focused on the phylogeny of Neuropterida. As the first representative chromosome-level genome of Neuropterida has been published, the future research of Neuropterida will focus on the genomic studies and molecular mechanisms of their morphological characters, behavior, historical evolution and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sinonothochrysa zhangi Huang and Nel gen. et sp. nov., a new genus and species of nothochrysine lacewing, are described and illustrated from the Palaeocene Buxin Formation, Sanshui Basina, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, South China. The new taxon is the oldest described representative and first reports this subfamily in China. It is also the first formally described fossil insects from the Buxin Formation of the Sanshui Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species, Heteroconis yunnanensis sp. nov. and Heteroconis orbicularis sp. nov., are described from China. Both species differ from their congeners in characters of the male genitalia. Heteroconis terminalis (Banks, 1913) is redescribed based on examined Chinese specimens. A key to the adult males of Heteroconis from China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleasing lacewings (Neuroptera: Dilaridae) are a group of Neuroptera well known for the sexually dimorphic antennae (unipectinate in male, filiform in female). However, in the dilarid genus, Berothella Banks, 1934 , the male antennae are not pectinate but thickly filiform. The genus is the sole representative of the recently established subfamily Berothellinae Liu, U. Aspöck & H. Aspöck, 2017, and includes three species from the Oriental region. So far each of the three species is known by a single male specimen. Here we describe two new species of Berothella , i.e., B. falcata sp. n. and B. wenii sp. n. from China based on morphological characters and molecular evidence. Moreover, we report on the first female of Berothellinae based on specimens of the newly discovered species. The female genital characters of Berothellinae are compared in detail with those of the other dilarid subfamilies. The distribution data of Berothellinae is updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Coniopterygidae, Semidalis procurva sp. nov. and Semidalis tibetana sp. nov., are described from China. Both species differ from congeners in characters of the male genitalia. Semidalis decipiens (Roepke, 1916), is recorded from China for the first time. An identification key for adult males of the Chinese species of Semidalis Enderlein, 1905 is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese species of Conwentzia Enderlein are revised by integrating morphological characters and molecular data. Conwentzia yunguiana Liu & Yang, 1993 is proposed as a junior synonym of Conwentzia nietoi Monserrat, 1982, syn. nov. and Conwentzia orthotibia Yang, 1974 is proposed as a junior synonym of Conwentzia pineticola Enderlein, 1905, syn. nov. Moreover, a key to the adult males of the Conwentzia from China and DNA barcodes are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossils of Osmylinae are rare, currently only one fossil genus of this subfamily is known, Lithosmylus which is recorded from the late Eocene Florissant Formation of USA. Herein, we report a new Osmylinae genus with two new species, Vetosmylus tentus gen. et sp. nov. and Vetosmylus maculosus gen. et sp. nov. from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China, The new genus shares many apomorphic characters with extant osmyline relatives, e.g., forked subcostal veinlets in forewing; dense cross-veins present in radial sector, usually forming one complete outer gradate series in forewing; the region between MA and MP significantly broadened in hind wing, but with only one row of cells, implying a likely morphological stasis during the evolution of Osmylinae. The new genus Vetosmylus, the first and earliest record hitherto of Osmylinae from the Mesozoic, enhances our understanding of the early stages of their evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A taxonomic study of the green lacewing subgenus Ankylopteryx Brauer, 1864, from China is presented. Eight species of this subgenus are recorded from China. A new species, namely Ankylopteryx (A.) yangi sp. nov., is described. Ankylopteryx (A.) delicatula Banks, 1937, and Ankylopteryx (A.) ferruginea Tsukaguchi, 1995 are recorded from China for the first time. Four new junior synonyms are proposed for Ankylopteryx (A.) octopunctata candida Fabricius, 1798: i.e. Ankylopteryx (A.) fraterna Banks, 1939, Ankylopteryx (A.) laticosta Banks, 1939, Ankylopteryx (A.) lii Yang, 1987, and Ankylopteryx (A.) tibetana Yang, 1987. A revised key to the Chinese species of the subgenus Ankylopteryx is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroptera (lacewings) is one of the ancient holometabolous insect groups, but some extant species stand as important natural enemies for biological control. As the capital city of China, Beijing has a rich fauna of Neuroptera, previously with 47 species recorded and sorted in 32 genera of seven families. In this study, DNA barcoding based on sequences of COI gene fragments is used to discriminate lacewing species from Beijing. 217 DNA barcode sequences belonging to 49 species were successfully obtained. The COI barcode data worked well for identification of almost all lacewing species herein examined except Pseudomallada prasinus (Burmeister), in which cryptic species may exist. Twenty species of Neuroptera are newly recorded from Beijing. Besides, Nothochrysinae is first recorded from Beijing. Chrysopidia ciliata (Wesmael) and Drepanepteryx algida (Erichson) are first recorded from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of osmylid (Heterosmylus processus sp. n.) is described and the other species in the genus from mainland China are redescribed. Heterosmylus zhamanus Yang, 1987, syn. n. is identified as a junior synonym of Heterosmylus yunnanus Yang, 1986. A key is provided to differentiate Palaearctic and Oriental species of Heterosmylus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgound: Saucrosmylids are characterized by the typically large body size, complicated venation and diverse wing markings, which were only discovered in Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Ningcheng county, Inner Mongolia, China. Principal Findings: Saucrosmylinae Ren, 2003, originally included as a subfamily in the Osmylidae, was transferred and elevated to family rank based on the definitive synapomorphic character. The updated definition of Saucrosmylidae stat. nov. was outlined in detail: presence of nygma and trichosors; diverse markings on membrane; complicated cross-veins; distal fusion of Sc and R1; expanded space between R1 and Rs having 2–7 rows of cells that should be a synapomorphic character of the family; proximal MP fork. And the previous misuses of Saucrosmylidae are also clarified. Furthermore, a new genus with a new species and an indeterminate species of Saucrosmylidae are described as Ulrikezza aspoeckae gen. et sp. nov. and Ulrikezza sp. from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. A key to genera of Saucrosmylidae is provided. Conclusions/Significance: The intriguing group represents a particular lineage of Neuroptera in the Mesozoic Era. The familial status of Saucrosmylidae was firstly advanced that clarified the former incorrect citation and use of the family name. As an extinct clade, many species of the saucrosmylids were erected just based on a single fore- or hindwing, and it should be realized that providing more stable characters is necessary when describing new lacewing taxa just based on an isolated hindwing. It is vital for the systematics of Saucrosmylidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phylogeny of the lacewing family Nymphidae based on morphology and DNA sequences is presented including representatives of all living genera and selected fossil genera. Widely distributed Jurassic and Cretaceous genera gave rise to recent taxa now restricted to Australasia. Two previously defined clades (i.e. Nymphinae and Myiodactylinae) were recovered and reflect the diverging adult and larval morphology of members of these two subfamilies. From Chinese Cretaceous deposits, a new genus ( Spilonymphes gen. nov.) is described with one new species, as well as new species described in the genera Baissoleon Makarkin and Sialium Westwood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epipanfilovia oviformis gen. et sp. nov. (Neuroptera: Panfiloviidae) is described from the Middle Jurassic locality of Daohugou (Inner Mongolia, China) based on six specimens. A revised diagnosis of this family is provided. It includes two genera, Panfilovia Makarkin and Epipanfilovia gen. nov.; Osmylogramma Ponomarenko is removed from the family. Panfiloviidae is most closely related to another Jurassic family Grammolingiidae, and both are provisionally assigned to the superfamily Osmyloidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lacewings (insect order Neuroptera), known in the fossil record since the Early Permian, were most diverse in the Mesozoic. A dramatic variety of forms ranged in that time from large butterfly-like Kalligrammatidae to minute two- winged Dipteromantispidae. Principal Findings: We describe the intriguing new neuropteran family Parakseneuridae fam. nov. with three new genera and 15 new species from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou (Inner Mongolia, China) and the Early/Middle Jurassic of Sai-Sagul (Kyrgyzstan): Parakseneura undula gen. et sp. nov., P. albomacula gen. et sp. nov., P. curvivenis gen. et sp. nov., P. nigromacula gen. et sp. nov., P. nigrolinea gen. et sp. nov., P. albadelta gen. et sp. nov., P. cavomaculata gen. et sp. nov., P. inflata gen. et sp. nov., P. metallica gen. et sp. nov., P. emarginata gen. et sp. nov., P. directa gen. et sp. nov., Pseudorapisma jurassicum gen. et sp. nov., P. angustipenne gen. et sp. nov., P. maculatum gen. et sp. nov. (Daohugou); Shuraboneura ovata gen. et sp. nov. (Sai-Sagul). The family comprises large neuropterans with most primitive wing venation in the order indicated by the presence of ScA and AA1+2, and the dichotomous branching of MP, CuA, CuP, AA3+4, AP1+2. The phylogenetic position of Parakseneuridae was investigated using a phylogenetic analysis of morphological scoring for 33 families of extinct and extant Neuropterida combined with DNA sequence data for representatives of all extant families. Parakseneuridae were recovered in a clade with Osmylopsychopidae, Prohemerobiidae, and Ithonidae. Conclusions/Significance: The presence of the presumed AA1+2 in wings of Parakseneuridae is a unique plesiomorphic condition hitherto unknown in Neuropterida, the clade comprising Neuroptera, Megaloptera, Raphidioptera. The relative uncertainty of phylogenetic position of Parakseneuridae and the majority of other families of Neuroptera reflects deficient paleontological data, especially from critical important periods for the order, earliest Triassic and latest Triassic/earliest Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Bankisus Navás, 1912, (Bankisus sparsus sp. n.) is described and illustrated with the genus newly recorded from China. A key to species of Bankisus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Adults of Chrysoperla sinica Tjeder are prevalent pollen feeders in rice fields in China. They are therefore exposed to insecticidal proteins when foraging insect-resistant genetically engineered rice pollen containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins. Laboratory bioassays were conducted to evaluate the potential impacts of Cry2Aa-expressing transgenic rice (T2A-1) pollen on fitness of adult C. sinica. Survival, pre-oviposition period, fecundity and adult dry weight did not differ between lacewings that had consumed Bt or non-Bt rice pollen. To ensure lacewing adults were not sensitive to Cry2Aa protein independent from the plant background and to add certainty to the toxicity assessment, C. sinica adults were fed with an artificial diet containing Cry2Aa protein at an approximately 10 times higher concentration than in rice pollen. Artificial diet containing potassium arsenate (PA) was included as a positive control. No difference was detected for any of the life-table parameters tested between Cry2Aa-containing and pure diet. In contrast, the pre-oviposition, fecundity and dry weight of C. sinica were significantly adversely affected by feeding on PA-containing diet. In both bioassays, the uptake of Cry protein by adult C. sinica and the bioactivity of Cry protein in the food sources were confirmed by ELISA measurements and sensitive insect bioassays, respectively. These results indicate that adults of C. sinica are not affected by Cry2Aa-expressing rice pollen and are not sensitive to Cry2Aa protein at concentrations exceeding the levels in pollen, thus demonstrating that growing Bt rice expressing Cry2Aa protein will pose a negligible risk to adult C. sinica. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new species and genus of Nevrorthidae, Sinoneurorthus yunnanicus n. gen. et n. sp., from Yunnan Province, China, is described. The generic status of the new genus is discussed based on the genital morphology. The phylogenetic and biogeographical relevance of the new genus and its implications on the whole family are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Alloepipsychopsis lata gen. et sp. nov. (Psychopsidae) is described from the Barremian Yixian Formation. Mesithoninae is considered as a subfamily of Berothidae, stat. nov., Baissoleon as a member of Nymphidae, sit. nov., and Chimerochrysopa as Mesochrysopidae, sit. nov. The taxonomic composition of the neuropteran assemblage of this formation (including undescribed material) is summarized. It includes approximately 65 species belonging to 15 families. The assemblage is dominated by Chrysopidae and Ithonidae in terms of number of specimens, while other Lower Cretaceous impression localities are dominated by other families: Psychopsidae (English Purbeck and Wealden; East Siberian Baissa), Mesochrysopidae (Spanish Las Hoyas), and Myrmeleontoidea (Brazilian Crato Formation). The great diversity of Ithonidae and Kalligrammatidae in the Yixian Formation compared with other Cretaceous localities supports the hypothesis of an existence of a refugium of Jurassic terrestrial relicts in East Asia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Kempyninae are a subfamily of osmylid lacewings whose extant representatives are restricted to the austral continents. Three new osmylids, Jurakempynus sinensis gen. et sp. nov., J. bellatulus gen. et sp. nov., and J. epunctatus gen. et sp. nov. are described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China. The new genus Jurakempynus is assigned to the subfamily Kempyninae constituting its oldest known occurrence. It is allied to the Australian genus Kempynus, sharing two synapomorphies: extremely expanded MP space and distally forked MP2 in the hindwing. The occurrence of Jurakempynus gen. nov. in China (Northern Hemisphere) implies a much wider geographic range of the Mesozoic osmylid lacewings in comparison to their modern counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a new species and genus of Aetheogrammatidae from the Jurassic of Inner Mongolia in China. It says that the new genus such as Aetheogramma from the younger Yixian deposits shows the notably large extent of the diversity in Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous neuropteran faunas. According to the author, the genus Kalligrammina Panfilov from the Late Jurassi of Karatau in southern part of Kazakhstan may be classified best in Aetheogramma. The diagnosis, description and holotype of the Aetheogramma kalligrammoides species are also discussed.

Two new species of lacewings are described and illustrated from the Jiulongshan Formation (Middle Jurassic) of Inner Mongolia, China: Leptolingia calonervis sp. nov. and Litholingia ptesa sp. nov. (Grammolingiidae). The species can be distinguished by the following features: the outermost branch of MP2 on the hind wing did not reach the margin of wing in Leptolingia calonervis sp. nov.; the second branch of Rs forked deeply while other branches of Rs forked much later in Litholingia ptesa sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green lacewing Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a common natural enemy of various insect pests in China and is frequently employed for augmentation biological control. Adults of this species perform migration flights after emergence, the nature of which affects its value for biological control program. In this manuscript, we report characteristics of C. sinica migratory populations captured during 2008-2009 using a light trap at Beihuang Island (Bohai Gulf), 40-60 km from mainland China, and their relationships with flight performance. In total, 1,452 migratory C. sinica adults were caught for these 2 yr. Throughout the sampling period, migratory populations consisted of >50% female individuals, most of which were in preoviposition period and had low degrees of ovarian development. During autumn, most migratory females were unmated. C. sinica females began oviposition since 7 d after emergence. Flight mill tests showed that 5-d-old females in preoviposition period flew over the longest distance (i.e., 4.50 ± 1.31 km) over 8 h and mating status did not affect flight performance. For 3-d-old individuals, males flew over larger distances than females, and unmated individuals exhibited stronger flight capability than mated ones. Hence, gender, mating status, and age all determine C. sinica flight performance. Based upon those findings, we can indicate that C. sinica migratory populations appear adapted to long-distance flights. This research should help understand C. sinica population dynamics and aid its incorporation within integrated pest management (IPM) packages for several crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allotriosmylus uniramosus n. gen., n. sp. (Osmylidae: Gumillinae) is described from the Jurassic of China. This is the smallest representative of the family and possesses several peculiar features not occurring in other osmylids, such as a structurally well-formed clavus in the hind wing and a single-branched Rs in both the fore- and hind wings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new fossil species of Kalligrammatidae (Neuroptera) are described from the Middle Jurassic locality at Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China: Limnogramma hani n. sp. and Limnogramma mongolicum n. sp. Some venational homologies in Neuroptera are discussed briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ascalochrysa megaptera gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Yixian Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of China. It is treated as belonging to the new family Ascalochrysidae fam. nov., closely related to Mesochrysopidae but easily distinguished from it in the hindwing venation features: e.g., numerous subcostal crossveins; branches of Rs widely, irregularly spaced and deeply branched; crossvenation rich, irregular; convex vein-like fold (‘M5’) before concave CuA present. The presence of well-developed ‘M5’ in the hind wing is interpreted to be plesiomorphic condition within the order. Ascalochrysidae are considered the sister group of Mesochrysopidae (s.l.). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new species of Neuroptera, Sophogramma lii sp. nov. is described and illustrated in this paper. This new species is assigned to Sophogramma Ren of Kalligrammatidae, mainly based on its humeral recurrent veins, the basal cell present between posterior branch of media at base of wing, etc. The new species is distinguished from all other Sophogramma species on the difference of wing venation. This exceptionally well-preserved specimen is recovered from the Yixian Formation, Huangbanjigou, located near Beipiao City, in western Liaoning Province. The genus diagnosis has been emended based on new characters shown in this new species. Based on a summary of localities, distribution and geological ages of all genera and species of the Kalligrammatidae, we suggest that Kalligrammatids might have originated in Eastern Asia, especially in China. Function of the wing pigmentation is discussed briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species group, the Protohermes fruhstorferi group of the dobsonfly genus Protohermes, is recognised. Three species belonging to the new species group are described and illustrated, including one new species from northern Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Aetheogrammatidae has a small family of extinct Neuroptera, comprises six species in five genera, described from the Middle Jurassic to the Lower Cretaceous of China. Topics include no information has available on the mouthpart morphology of Aetheogrammatidae; and the holotype has housed in Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature.

A new species group, the Protohermes differentialis group of the dobsonfly genus Protohermes, is recognised. Two species belonging to the new species group from China are described and illustrated, including one new species. Neurhermes differentialis is transferred to the genus Protohermes, and Neurhermes fangchengensis is a new synonym of P. differentialis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]