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

Yaru Zhao; Ying Li; Min Li; Zhiqi Liu

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1055.63192

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Distribution, dustywings, faunistics, lacewings, morphology, taxonomy

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 M₃₊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 Liu & Yang, 1997 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.

Table 1.

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List of species of the genus Semidalis Enderlein, 1905 (Neuroptera, Coniopterygidae) in China.

Species	Distribution(Province)	References
S. aleyrodiformis (Stephens, 1836)	Widely distributed	Yang and Liu (1994, 1997); Liu and Yang (1997)
S. anchoroides Liu & Yang, 1993	Guizhou, Yunnan	Liu and Yang (1993)
S. bicornis Liu & Yang, 1993	Guizhou, Yunnan	Liu and Yang (1993)
S. biprojecta ¹ Yang & Liu, 1994	Guangxi	Yang and Liu (1994)
S. daqingshana Liu & Yang, 1994	Guangxi	Yang and Liu (1994)
S. decipiens (Roepke, 1916)	Yunnan	This paper
S. macleodi Meinander, 1972	Taiwan	Meinander (1972); Sziráki, G (2004)
S. procurva sp. nov.	Yunnan	This paper
S. rectangula Yang & Liu, 1994	Guangxi	Yang and Liu (1994)
S. sanxiana ¹ Liu & Yang, 1997	Hubei	Liu and Yang (1997)
S. tibetana sp. nov.	Tibet	This paper
S. unicornis Meinander, 1972	Guangxi	Meinander (1972); Yang and Liu (1994)
S. ypsilon Liu & Yang, 2003	Yunnan	Liu, Yang and Shen (2003)

Figure 1.

Distribution of Semidalis species in China.

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 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.

Taxonomy

Genus Semidalis Enderlein, 1905

Semidalis decipiens (Roepke, 1916)

Figs 2, 3

Type species

Semidalis aleyrodiformis Stephens, 1836.

Material examined

China: Yunnan (Province): Ruili (County): Longchuan (Township), [24.1776°N, 97.7947°E], 28.iii.2019, leg. Yaru Zhao and Mingming Zou, 70 males. China: Yunnan (Province): Jinghong (City), [21.9695°N, 100.8060°E], 23.iii.2019, leg. Yaru Zhao and Mingming Zou, 7 males. China: Yunnan (Province): Ruili (County): Guangshuang (Village), [23.9500°N, 97.7880°E], 1.v.1981, leg. Fasheng Li, 1 male. China: Yunnan (Province): Ruili (County): Longchuan (Township), [24.1776°N, 97.7947°E], 1.v.1981, leg. Chikun Yang, 2 males. China: Yunnan (Province): Menghai (County), [22.0031°N, 100.2050°E], 9.iv.1981, leg. Fasheng Li, 1 male. China: Yunnan (Province): Jinghong (City), [22.0285°N, 100.9025°E], 9.iv.1981, leg. Fasheng Li, 1 male.

Measurements

Male: Body length 1.8–2.4 mm. Antennae 31–34 segment, 2.1–2.3 mm in length. Forewing length 2.2–3.0 mm, width 1.0–1.1 mm. Hindwing length 2.0–2.4 mm, width 0.8–0.9 mm (N = 20).

Redescription

Head (Fig. 2). Dark brown. Frons and palpi normal. Compound eyes large and dark. Antennae brown. Scape and pedicel broad and blunt. Basal flagellomeres wider than long. Distal flagellomeres gradually tapering toward apex. Apical flagellomeres tapered. Pedicel and flagellomeres each with two circles of hair-like sensilla. Maxillary and labial palps yellowish brown.

Figure 2.

Semidalis decipiens (Roepke, 1916), male habitus, lateral view. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Thorax (Fig. 2). Pale ochreous. Thoracic apodemes light brown. Sutures dark brown. Meso- and metanotum with shoulder spots. Legs brown.

Wing. Wing membrane light greyish brown, almost hyaline.

Male terminalia (Fig. 3). 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 slender and apparently projecting from the border of ectoprocts and segment 9. Hypandrium truncate apically in lateral view; dorsal margin with a shallow incision in caudal view. Parameres pick-like; basal part slender; distal part widened and curved upwards decidedly, with ventral knob in middle part. Uncini absent.

Figure 3.

Semidalis decipiens (Roepke, 1916), male genitalia a, b genitalia, lateral view c, d genitalia, caudal view e, f genitalia, ventral view g parameres, lateral view. Pa, parameres; S, stylus.

Remarks

This species is reported from China for the first time.

Distribution

China (new record), Yunnan; India; Indonesia; Malaysia (Sziráki 2011).

Semidalis procurva Zhao, Y. Li, M. Li & Liu, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/79B319E3-01AD-4EFA-B044-2E2629262EBC

Figs 4, 5

Type material

Holotype male, China: Yunnan (Province): Ruili (County): Mengxiu (Township): Nanjingli (Village), [24.0917°N, 97.8460°E], 30.iii.2019, leg. Yaru Zhao. Paratypes. Same data as holotype, 37 males. CHINA: Yunnan (Province): Ruili (County): Mengxiu (Township): Nanjingli (Village), [24.0917°N, 97.8460°E], 2.v.1981, leg. Chikun Yang, 3 males.

Diagnosis

Male genitalia: stylus present; parameres with ventral knob, long, distal part widened and bent upwards, and apical part bent forwards distally in an obtuse angle; uncini absent.

Measurements

Male: Forewing length 3.2–3.5 mm, width 1.1–1.3 mm. Hindwing length 2.5–2.7 mm, width 1.0–1.3 mm. Body length 2.4–2.6 mm. Antennae 34–35 segments, 2.1–2.3 mm in length (N = 15).

Description

Male: Head (Fig. 4). Brown. Frons and palpi normal. Compound eyes large, dark. Scape and pedicel broad, blunt and yellowish brown. Flagellomeres dark brown. Basal flagellomeres as long as broad. Subsequent flagellomeres tapering gradually. Apical flagellomeres tapered. Flagellomeres each with two circles of hair-like sensilla. Maxillary and labial palps yellowish brown.

Figure 4.

Semidalis procurva sp. nov., male habitus, lateral view. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Thorax (Fig. 4). Pale ochreous. Thoracic apodemes light brown. Sutures dark brown. Meso- and metanotum with shoulder spots. Legs brown (except femur and tibia yellowish brown).

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.

Figure 5.

Semidalis procurva sp. nov., male genitalia a, b genitalia, lateral view c, d genitalia, caudal view e, f genitalia, ventral view g parameres, lateral view. Pa, parameres; S, stylus.

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.

Semidalis tibetana Zhao, Y. Li, M. Li & Liu, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/7B69881E-8AB3-46C0-BFD9-4A4DD01BF02C

Figs 6, 7

Type material

Holotype male, China: Tibet (Autonomous Region): Linzhi (City): Milin (County), [29.0428°N, 93.8898°E], 10.vi.2019, leg. Yaru Zhao. Paratypes. Same data as holotype, 37 males.

Other material

China: Tibet (Autonomous Region): Linzhi (City): Bomi (County): Zhamu (Township), [29.7103°N, 95.5857°E], 10–19.vi.1978, leg. Fasheng Li, 92 males. China: Tibet (Autonomous Region): Linzhi (City): Linzhi (County), [29.6019°N, 94.4168°E], 7.vi.1978, leg. Fasheng Li, 1 male. China: Tibet (Province): Linzhi (City): Bomi (County): Yigong (Township), [30.2389°N, 94.8523°E], 14.vi.1978, leg. Fasheng Li, 2 males. China: Tibet (Autonomous Region): Linzhi (City): Chayu (County), [29.7103°N, 95.5857°E], 2.vi.1978, leg. Fasheng Li, 4 males.

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.

Measurements

Male: Forewing length 2.6–3.5 mm, width 1.5–1.9 mm. Hindwing length 2.1–2.8 mm, width 1.2–1.5 mm. Body length 1.6–2.3 mm. Antennae 33–35 segments, 2.3–2.5 mm in length (N = 25).

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.

Figure 6.

Semidalis tibetana sp. nov., male habitus, lateral view. Scale bar: 1 mm.

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.

Figure 7.

Semidalis tibetana sp. nov., male genitalia a, b genitalia, lateral view c, d genitalia, caudal view. e, f genitalia, ventral view g parameres, lateral view. Pa, parameres; S, stylus.

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.

Identification key to males of Chinese species of Semidalis

1	Parameres with ventral knob (Figs 3g, 5g)	2
–	Parameres without ventral knob (Fig. 7g)	5
2	Ventral knob at distal part of parameres (Meinander 1972: fig. 198B)	S. macleodi Meinander
–	Ventral knob at proximal two thirds of parameres (Figs 3g, 5g)	3
3	Parameres with uncinus (Liu et al. 2003: figs 4–8)	S. ypsilon Liu & Yang
–	Parameres without uncinus (Figs 3g, 5g)	4
4	Ventral knob small in parameres (Fig. 3g)	S. decipiens (Roepke)
–	Ventral knob slender in parameres (Fig. 5g)	S. procurva Zhao, Y. Li, M. Li & Liu, sp. nov.
5	Uncini absent	6
–	Uncini present (Meinander 1972: fig. 200F)	9
6	Tip of parameres bent forwards (Fig. 7g)	S. tibetana Zhao, Y. Li, M. Li & Liu, sp. nov.
–	Tip of parameres bent upwards (Yang and Liu 1994: fig. 5)	S. rectangula Yang & Liu
7	Uncini fused (Meinander 1972: fig. 212E)	8
–	Uncini not fused	9
8	Distal part of hypandrium composing one spine in caudal view (Meinander 1972: fig. 212F)	S. unicornis Meinander
–	Distal part of hypandrium composing two spines in caudal view (Liu and Yang 1993: fig. 4C)	S. bicornis Liu & Yang
9	Parameres with one dorsal knob (Liu and Yang 1993, fig. 3C)	S. anchoroides Liu & Yang
–	Parameres with two dorsal knobs (Meinander 1972: fig. 200F)	10
10	Uncini present near the middle part of parameres (Meinander 1972: fig. 200F)	S. aleyrodiformis (Stephens)
–	Uncini present at the distal part of parameres (Yang and Liu 1994: fig. 4)	S. daqingshana Liu & Yang

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Animal Collection Resource Center and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 31772499).

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