Who decides whether two lacewing populations (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) are two different species, them or us?

Most insects were dead when they were named by taxonomists, and predominantly morphological criteria have been used for more than two centuries. But in nature there are populations with individuals looking identical, that turn out to represent two or more different species, and others that look different but are single biological species. Coastal and several continental populations of the green lacewing Chrysoperla mediterranea (Hölzel 1972) had been considered to be one species, based on identical precopulatory "song patterns" (Henry et al.

The Apertochrysa prasina group (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), with a key to the European species.

All nine presently known European species of the Apertochrysa prasina group (formerly the Pseudomallada prasinus group) are diagnosed. Separate keys for the identification of living and preserved specimens of each sex are presented. For males, the furwing trait (increased numbers of setae on costal crossveins) is often crucial for identification, especially in preserved specimens.

Apertochrysa Tjeder, 1966, a new senior synonym of Pseudomallada Tsukaguchi, 1995 (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Chrysopinae: Chrysopini).

Apertochrysa Tjeder, 1966, is identified as a new senior subjective synonym of the large, subcosmopolitan, green lacewing genus currently known under the name Pseudomallada Tsukaguchi, 1995. Apertochrysa is rediagnosed and the taxonomic consequences of the new synonymy are reviewed. New combinations are created in Apertochrysa for 165 species formerly placed in Pseudomallada and for two species formerly placed in Mallada; three species are transferred from Pseudomallada back to previously-established combinations in Apertochrysa; and 13 additional species are retained in Apertochrysa from previous placements.

A species continuum exists between Pseudomallada prasinus and P. abdominalis (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae).

It has recently been determined that Pseudomallada prasinus (Burmeister, 1839) is part of a complex of prasinoid species (Duelli Obrist, 2019). Apart from P. prasinus s.

Rhachiella malawica gen. nov., spec. nov. from Malawi-another beauty of the Afrotropics (Neuroptera: Rhachiberothidae).

A new species and a new genus of Rhachiberothidae, Rhachiella malawica gen. nov., spec.

(Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): A heterogeneric phantom?

The small lacewing genus Apertochrysa comprises species from Africa, Asia and Australia. All lack a tignum, but otherwise resemble distantly related genera. We show that Apertochrysa does not form a monophyletic clade, based on analyses of molecular sequence data and morphological traits such as the presence and shape of the male gonapsis, wing venation, and larval setae.

Singing from the grave: DNA from a 180 year old type specimen confirms the identity of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens).

Historically serving as repositories for morphologically-based taxonomic research, natural history collections are now increasingly being targeted in studies utilizing DNA data. The development of advanced molecular techniques has facilitated extraction of useable DNA from old specimens, including type material. Sequencing diagnostic molecular markers from type material enables accurate species designation, especially where modern taxonomic hypotheses confirm morphologically cryptic species complexes.

A new East-Asian species in the Chrysoperla carnea-group of cryptic lacewing species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) based on distinct larval morphology and a unique courtship song.

Larval morphology and substrate-borne vibrational courtship songs have been hypothesized to distinguish and isolate Chrysoperla 'nipponensis-B' from true 'Type A' Chrysoperla nipponensis (Okamoto), both of which occur sympatrically in eastern Asia. Here, we formally describe C. 'nipponensis-B' as Chrysoperla nigrocapitata sp.

A new species of Spongilla-fly from Western Africa (Neuroptera: Sisyridae).

A new species of spongilla-fly (Neuropterida, Neuroptera, Sisyridae: Sisyra) is described from Western Africa (Guinea and Ivory Coast). This new Sisyra species differs from all other known African species both in its morphology and genitalia, and it seems to be most closely related to a species in Thailand.

Obligatory duetting behaviour in the Chrysoperla carnea-group of cryptic species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): its role in shaping evolutionary history.

An unusual system of communication has evolved in green lacewings of the Chrysoperla carnea-group, triggering rapid proliferation of numerous cryptic species across all of the Northern Hemisphere and large portions of Africa. The system is based on sexually monomorphic, substrate-borne vibrational signals, produced by abdominal oscillation. These low-frequency signals are exchanged between courting individuals in a precise duetting format.

Effective long-distance pollen dispersal in Centaurea jacea.

Background: Agri-environment schemes play an increasingly important role for the conservation of rare plants in intensively managed agricultural landscapes. However, little is known about their effects on gene flow via pollen dispersal between populations of these species.

Methodology/principal Findings: In a 2-year experiment, we observed effective pollen dispersal from source populations of Centaurea jacea in restored meadows, the most widespread Swiss agri-environment scheme, to potted plants in adjacent intensively managed meadows without other individuals of this species.

Interaction diversity within quantified insect food webs in restored and adjacent intensively managed meadows.

1. We studied the community and food-web structure of trap-nesting insects in restored meadows and at increasing distances within intensively managed grassland at 13 sites in Switzerland to test if declining species diversity correlates with declining interaction diversity and changes in food-web structure. 2.

Biodiversity and resilience of arthropod communities after fire disturbance in temperate forests.

Changes in ecosystem functions following disturbances are of central concern in ecology and a challenge for ecologists is to understand the factors that affect the resilience of community structures and ecosystem functions. In many forest ecosystems, one such important natural disturbance is fire. The aim of this study was to understand the variation of resilience in six functional groups of invertebrates in response to different fire frequencies in southern Switzerland.