Two new species of Semidalis Enderlein, 1905 (Neuroptera, Coniopterygidae) from China, with an identification key to Chinese species

Abstract Two new species of Coniopterygidae, Semidalisprocurvasp. nov. and Semidalistibetanasp. nov., are described from China. Both species differ from congeners in characters of the male genitalia. Semidalisdecipiens (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.


Introduction
The genus Semidalis was erected by Enderlein (1905) based on the type species Semidalis aleyrodiformis Stephens, 1836 and nowadays possesses approximately 73 species (Sziráki 2011;Oswald 2020). This large genus belongs to the subfamily Coniopteryginae and has a worldwide distribution, with individuals usually found in bushes and trees (Meinander 1972). Both adults and larvae of dustywings are predatory insects, which can feed on spider mites, aphids, scale insects, and plant hoppers (Miller et al. 2004). They are the effective natural enemies in agricultural and forestry production (Abad-Moyano et al. 2009). Semidalis is distinguished from other dustywing genera by the combination of the following characters: Rs and M branched in the forewing and hindwing; cross-vein M-Cu1 oblique, striking the branch M 3+4 or fork of M in both wings; ectoproct and segment 9 synscleritous (Meinander 1972;Aspöck and Aspöck 2008;Sziráki 2011). Up to now, ten species of Semidalis have been recorded from China (Sziráki 2011;Oswald 2020). Herein, two new species are described and one species is reported from China for the first time, increasing the number of Chinese Semidalis species to thirteen. However, we are aware of two synonyms: Semidalis sanxiana  should be a junior synonym of Semidalis macleodi Meinander, 1972 and Semidalis biprojecta Yang & Liu, 1994 should be a junior synonym of Semidalis anchoroides Liu & Yang, 1993. These synonyms will be formally proposed in a forthcoming color atlas of the Chinese Neuropterida. So, there should be eleven valid species of Semidalis in China. Information on the distribution of Semidalis species is shown in Figure 1 and Table 1.

Material and methods
Examined specimens are preserved in absolute alcohol and deposited in the Entomological Museum of the China Agricultural University, Beijing (CAU). For the study of genitalic structures, the abdomen was dissected and cleared in a heated solution of 5% potassium hydroxide (KOH) for 5 minutes. Subsequently, the genitalia were rinsed in water and ethanol. Finally, the abdomen was transferred to glycerol for dissection and study. After examination, the abdomen was preserved in glycerol and stored in a 200 μL microtube, while the head and thorax of the specimen were preserved in absolute alcohol and stored in another 200 μL microtube, then the two microtubes were  Enderlein, 1905 (Neuroptera, Coniopterygidae) in China.
Tibet This paper S. unicornis Meinander, 1972Guangxi Meinander (1972; Yang and Liu (1994) S. ypsilon Yang, 2003 Yunnan Liu, Yang andShen (2003) stored in a 5 mL microtube. Morphological terminology follows Meinander (1972). Specimens were examined with an Optec SZ760 stereomicroscope. Photos were taken with a Nikon D5300 digital camera attached to a Leica DM2500 stereomicroscope. The resulting images were edited and processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2018. According to the results of the photos and the observation under the microscope, the pen and pencil tools of the Photoshop software were used to draw the various views of the genitals, then the photos and drawings were typeset on the software to generate the final picture.
Wing. Wing membrane yellowish brown, almost hyaline. Male terminalia (Fig 5). Abdomen pale ochreous. Segment 9 wholly synscleritous, proximally strengthened by an apodeme encircling the whole abdomen. Ectoproct subtriangular in lateral view; dorso-caudal angle acute in caudal view. Stylus small at the border of ectoprocts and segment 9. Hypandrium truncate apically in lateral view; dorsal margin with a deep incision in caudal view; lateral process slender in caudal view. Parameres long; basal part slender; distal part widened and bent upwards, apical part bent forwards in an obtuse angle, with ventral knob, connected with a small sclerite. Uncini absent.
Distribution. China (Yunnan). Etymology. The species name is a Latin adjective referring to the forward bending pose on distal part of parameres.
Remarks. The new species belongs to the Semidalis rectangular group. It is similar to Semidalis macleodi Meinander, 1972, but the two species differ in the shape of parameres. The apical part of the parameres is bent forwards in an obtuse angle in the new species, while it is bent upwards in S. macleodi. Moreover, a ventral knob is present in the proximal two thirds of the parameres in the new species, while it is present at the tip of the parameres in S. macleodi. Diagnosis. Male genitalia: stylus present; parameres without ventral knob, distal part gradually widened and bent upwards in an obtuse angle, apical part conspicuously bent forwards distally; uncini absent.
Description. Male: Head (Fig. 6). Dark brown. Frons and palpi normal. Compound eyes large and dark. Antennae brown. Scape and pedicel broad and blunt. Basal flagellomeres as long as wide. Distal flagellomeres gradually tapering toward apex. Apical flagellomeres tapered. Pedicel and flagellomeres each with two circles of hair-like sensilla. Maxillary and labial palps light brown. Thorax (Fig. 6). Pale ochreous. Thoracic apodemes light brown. Sutures dark brown. Meso-and metanotum with shoulder spots. Legs light brown.
Wing. Wing membrane dark brown, almost hyaline. Male terminalia (Fig 7). Abdomen pale ochreous. Segment 9 wholly synscleritous, proximally strengthened by an apodeme encircling the whole abdomen. Ectoproct short, broad and round. Hypandrium truncate apically in lateral view; dorsal margin with a deep incision in caudal view; lateral process slender in caudal view. Stylus long and broad, apparently projecting from the border of ectoprocts and segment 9. Parameres long; basal part slender; distal part gradually widened  and bent upwards in an obtuse angle, and its apical part bent forwards evidently. Uncini absent.
Distribution. China (Tibet). Etymology. The specific epithet "tibetana" refers to the name of type locality. Remarks. The new species belongs to the Semidalis rectangular group. It is similar to Semidalis rectangular Yang & Liu, 1994, but the two species differ in the shape of the parameres. The distal part of the parameres is bent upwards in an obtuse angle in the new species, while it is bent upwards clearly in S. rectangular. Moreover, the apical part of the parameres bends forward distinctly in the new species, while it is bent upwards in S. rectangular. Furthermore, the stylus is long and broad in the new species, while it is small in S. rectangular. Ventral knob small in parameres (Fig. 3g)  Tip of parameres bent forwards (Fig. 7g)  Uncini fused (Meinander 1972