Italochrysa Principi, 1946

Hassan, Muhammad Asghar & Liu, Xingyue, 2022, The green lacewings of Pakistan (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): a faunal review with new records of genera and species, Zootaxa 5180 (1), pp. 1-83 : 6

Genus Italochrysa Principi, 1946

Diagnosis

Italochrysa can be generally recognized by their larger and robust bodies (forewing length: 19.5–24.0 mm) and brownish bodies with yellow markings. It can be distinguished by the quadrangular intramedian cell in the forewing ( Figs 1C , 4 ) and the male genitalia with one pair of long parameres ( Fig. 7F ). Although Italochrysa is closely related to Evanochrysa Brooks & Barnard, 1990 in having a quadrangular intramedian cell, it can be distinguished by the presence of parameres in male genitalia and the absence of pregenitale in female genitalia.

Notes

Italochrysa currently includes nine species in India (see Brooks & Barnard 1990; Ghosh 2000) and three species in Pakistan: I. lefroyi (Needham) , I. aequalis (Walker) , and I. everetti (van der Weele) . In this study, we revised the Pakistani Italochrysa species based on new materials and the paratype photographs of I. lefroyi from the Cornell University Insect Collection (CUIC). However, the identity of Italochrysa species in the subcontinent has remained obscure and it may include more unknown species in the region. Thus, the recent finding of I. aequalis and I. everetti from Pakistan is of great interest. This genus was not listed in the former catalogue from Pakistan ( Hassan et al. 2019).

Key to Italochrysa species from Pakistan

1 Wings hyaline, unmarked ( Fig. 5 )........................................................................ 2

– Forewing with a dark brown spot at distal margin of icu3 cell ( Fig. 4 )...................... I. everetti (van der Weele)

2 Legs pale yellow, except femora with a median dark spot ( Fig. 6F ).............................. I. aequalis (Walker)

– Legs pale yellow, unmarked ( Figs 11A–B )................................................. I. lefroyi (Needham)

Figures

FIGURE 1. Tip of forewing: A. Tumeochrysa indica Needham; B. Italochrysa everetti (van der Weele); base of right forewing: C. Italochrysa everetti (van der Weele); D. Suarius walsinghami orientalis Hölzel; E. Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben- Petersen); F. Suarius walsinghami orientalis Hölzel. Abbreviations: i.g. = inner gradate; o.g. = outer gradate; m.g. = middle gradate; im = intramedian cell; r+m = radial-median crossvein.

FIGURE 4. Italochrysa everetti (van der Weele). Male. Right fore- and hind wing. Scale bar: 5.0 mm. Abbreviations: A = Anal vein; b = upper Banksian cells; b’ = upper Banksian cells; bsx = basal subcostal crossvein; C = Costa; CuA = Cubitus anterior; CuP = Cubitus posterior; cv = subcostal veinlets; icu = intracubital cells; ig = inner gradate; im = intramedian cell; m = median cell; ma = median arculus; MA = Media anterior; m-cu2 = second m-cu crossvein (between the Media and Cubitus); MP = Media posterior; og = outer gradate; Pt = pterostigma; pmx = posterior median crossvein; Psc = pseudocubitus; Psm = pseudomedia; RA = Radius anterior; RP = Radius posterior; r-m = radial-median crossvein; r1 = first radial cell; rx = radial crossvein; Sc = Subcosta.

FIGURE 5. Italochrysa aequalis (Walker). A. Male habitus; B. Female habitus. Scale bar: 5.0 mm.

FIGURE 6. Italochrysa aequalis (Walker). Male.A. Head, frontal view; B. Head and pronotum, lateral view; C. Dorsal habitus; D. Ventral habitus; E. Hind pretarsal claw; F. Lateral habitus. Scale bars: 2.0 mm.

FIGURE 7. Italochrysa aequalis (Walker). A. Male genitalia, lateral view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Female genitalia, lateral view; D. Same, ventral view. E. Close view of S8+9 distally, lateral view; F. Parameres, dorsal view; G. Same, ventral view; H. Hypandrium internum, dorsal view; I. Gonarcus and arcessus, ventral view; J. Subgenitale, ventral view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm (A– D). Abbreviations: arc = arcessus; c = comes; cc = callus cerci; da = dorsal arm of apodeme; gl = gonaphophyses lateralis; gon = gonarcus; hi = hypandrium internum; pa = parameres; S = sternum; S8+9 = fused eighth and ninth sterna; sa = submarginal apodeme; sg = subgenitale; T = tergum; T9+ect = fused ninth tergum and ectoproct.

FIGURE 11. Dorsal habitus of Nothochrysa lefroyi Needham (Italochrysa lefroyi) from India. A. Dorsal habitus; B. Same, lateral habitus; C. Right fore and hind wing. (PARATYPE [Cornell U. No. 56.2]).