Corresponding author: Shaun L. Winterton (
Academic editor: A. Contreras-Ramos
An unusual new species of green lacewing (
New species are increasingly being discovered by the general public with interests in the natural sciences long before they are recognized as new to science by professional taxonomists and formally described. With the rapid development of digital photographic technology, professional and amateur photographers are unknowingly discovering and informally documenting new species of animals and plants by placing images of them in online image databases long before taxonomists can examine them. In some cases the specimen is not collected, so this discovery is effervescent until additional specimens can be subsequently vouchered to enable type designation during the formal descriptive process. Herein we document one such case involving a distinctive new green lacewing (
Green lacewings are the second largest family of lacewings, with more than 1200 species in approximately 80 valid genera distributed in all major biogeographical regions worldwide (
The discovery of a new species of
Terminology follows
Extensive black markings with white fenestrations in basal portion of both wings; forewing with basal four to five crossveins between R and Rs converging posteriorly, Rs closely approximating Psm basally; three crossveins between Cu1 and Cu2, 1st posterior marginal crossvein forked with posterior arm joining to Cu2 petiolate to margin; two dark spots across frons below antennae; single marking between antennal bases; dark markings medially on abdominal tergites 2–4; sternite seven with acuminate posteromedial margin with tuft of short dark setae.
Female: Wing length (forewing: 15.0 mm; hindwing: 13.5–14.0 mm). Overall colouration in live specimens bright green and yellow, with dark markings on head, abdomen and both wings (pale yellow in dried specimens). Head. Yellow with black marking on vertex between antennae and small quadrangular marking on frons below antennal base and proximal to eye margin; clypeus with brown suffusion laterally; labrum emarginate medially; antenna pale green but otherwise unmarked, slightly longer than forewing; flagellum with at least 50 flagellomeres; palpi green, unmarked. Thorax. Prothorax green with small brown mark anterolaterally on pronotum; setae short, green, and relatively sparse, darker and more dense laterally; mesonotum and metanotum yellow green, scutum darker in preserved specimen, mesoscutellum pale yellow, setae sparse and pale yellow to white; legs very pale green with white setae, setae shorter and yellowish distally on foretibiae; distal tarsomere and claws brownish on all legs; wings relatively rounded, forewing costal area broad, rounded basally, then straight to wing apex; forewing with Rs sigmoid and closely approximating pseudomedial (Psm) basally; first five r-rs crossveins convergent, remaining crossveins sub parallel; seven inner gradate crossveins, meeting Psm; nine outer gradate crossveins; three crossveins between Cu1 and Cu2, 1st posterior marginal crossvein forked with posterior arm joining to Cu2, petiolate to margin; hind wing with five inner gradate crossveins, seven outer gradate crossveins; wing veins with setae relatively elongate and pedicellate, pedicels longer in basal portion of wing, setae colour corresponding to wing markings and colour of wing venation; wing hyaline with markings as per
Type locality of
The unusual new species is easily differentiated from all other species of
This new species is named after the daughter of the senior author, Jade Tanya Winterton.
(Modified after
1 | Wings unmarked except for indistinct small spot on dcc and black border on costa | |
– | Wings with numerous brown or black markings | 2 |
2 | Forewing with strong dark brown marking at base of outer gradate series | 3 |
– | Forewing without dark markings in this position (sometimes very faint) | 4 |
3 | Large dark brown marking present on fourth posterior marginal crossvein of forewing; small marking present on Cu2; male genitalia with arcessus narrow, without ridges; female genitalia with duct of spermatheca twisted, vela very long | |
– | Small mark present on fourth posterior marginal crossvein of forewing, but with large brown mark on dcc; male genitalia with arcessus broad, ridged; female genitalia with duct of spermatheca and vela short | |
4 | Single median marking on vertex either between, or immediately posterior to antennal bases | 5 |
– | Medial marking absent on vertex between or immediately posterior to antennal bases | 7 |
5 | Extensive dark markings in basal portion of forewing from R vein to posterior margin of wing; basal four to five crossveins between R and Rs converging posteriorly; three crossveins between Cu1 and Cu2, 1st posterior marginal crossvein forked with posterior arm joining to Cu2 petiolate to margin | |
– | Dark markings in basal portion of forewing restricted to basal cells along posterior margin of forewing; basal four to five crossveins between R and Rs parallel; two crossveins between Cu1 and Cu2, 1st posterior marginal crossvein not forked and separate from Cu2 to wing margin | 6 |
6 | Hindwing with distinct brown marking on dcc and faint shading on posterior marginal crossveins | |
– | Hindwing with only faint markings on dcc or forked posterior forked marginal crossveins, but marking present on fourth posterior marginal crossvein | |
7 | Prominent markings at base of inner gradate series of forewing and on fourth posterior marginal crossvein; male abdominal setae dense and fine | |
– | Forewing lacking above combination of markings, though pale suffusion may be present | 8 |
8 | Two spots on frons below antennae | |
– | Three spots on frons below antennae | 9 |
9 | Brown band extending from along inner margin of eye from postocular lobe to anterior edge of vertex | |
– | Brown band absent; isolated mark on postocular lobe | 10 |
10 | Fore and hindwing lightly suffused with brown, particularly along posterior margins, distinct spots absent | |
– | Fore and hind light brown suffusion admixed with dark markings | 11 |
11 | Darkest marking on forewing on dcc | 12 |
– | Darkest marking on forewing on fourth posterior marginal crossvein | 13 |
12 | Forewing dcc with large marking, extending from anal veins to second cubital cell (c2); many crossveins with pale brown suffusion including Rs and inner gradate series | |
Forewing dcc with small marking, not extending to anal veins or c2; all crossveins pale | ||
13 | Small species, forewing length 7.5 mm; four inner gradate and five outer gradate crossveins | |
– | Larger species, forewing length 9.0 mm or greater; at least six inner gradate and outer gradate crossveins | 14 |
14 | Forewing length 9.0 mm, faint marking on dcc with extensive brown suffusion; female spermatheca with deep ventral impression | |
– | Forewing length 13.0 mm, dcc lacking dark markings and brown suffusion posteriorly; female spermatheca with shallow ventral impression |
Thank you to Drs Norman Penny and Kady Tauber for their input during discussions regarding the identity of this species. Thank you also to an anonymous reviewer. This research was supported by the Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS-209-48). Statements and viewpoints expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of ABRS.