Abachrysa, Banks

Tauber, Catherine A., 2021, The New World Belonopterygini (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): descriptions of a new genus and species from the West Indies and comparisons among the genera, Zootaxa 4975 (3), pp. 509-543 : 533

Abachrysa ( Brooks & Barnard 1990: 165, Figs 125–132;

Breitkreuz 2018: 254–258; here, Figs 12–22 ).

A monotypic genus. Size: Body stout, relatively large; wing length 12.6–18.5 mm; males and females of similar size. Coloration: Cream to gold with bold black markings on thorax, abdomen, and legs; antennal flagellum dark basally. Wings: Slender, tips rounded; ratio of forewing length to width = ~3.2: 1; forewing and hindwing without splayed crossveins or dark markings, with most veins dark, interrupted by pale areas basally and within some longitudinal veins and crossveins. Tarsal claws: Basal dilation present. Abdomen: Setae numerous short, stout. Male: Ectoproct extending proximally as far as mid A8; dorsal apodeme of T9+e with a right-angled bend mesally, with basal section extending downward through at least half the length of A8; S8+9 fused with prominent suture visible; S6–S8 with microtholi; gonarcus without gonocornu, with frontal plate; parameres large, with membranous fusion basally. Female: Abdominal tergites with distinct mesal suture; dorsum of T9+e with deep mesal invagination; praegenitale present, visible externally.

In summary, Abachrysa is the only New World belonopterygine genus having a robust, pale body with bold markings, no wing markings or splayed costal veins, with males having large paired parameres joined in a V-shape, and females having the abdominal tergites mesally divided or very lightly fused and a praegenitale present externally.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Abachrysa eureka Banks. Head and antenna. A. Head, frontal. B. Head, prothorax, dorsal. C. Head, prothorax, lateral. D. Head ventral. E. Antenna, dorsal and close-up: E1. Pedicel and basal flagellomeres. E2. Flagellomeres near base. E3. Flagellomeres midantenna. E4. Terminal flagellomeres. Abbreviations: co, cardo; lbr, labrum; l.p., labial palp; m.p., maxillary palp; stp, stipe; to, torulus; t.p., tentorial pit. [All: Alabama, female, TRC].

FIGURE 13. Abachrysa eureka Banks. Head and antenna, cleared. A. Head, frontal. B. Upper region of head, frontal. C. Lower region of head, frontal. D. Lower region of head, ventral. E, F. Flagellomeres, midantenna, E. x100, F. x200. Abbreviations: co, cardo; fl, flagellum; ga, galea; ge, gena; lc, lacinia; lg, ligula; l.p., labial palp; mb, mandible; m.p., maxillary palp; pd, pedicel; sc, scape; stp, stipe; t.p., tentorial pit. [All: Florida, female, TRC].

FIGURE 14. Abachrysa eureka Banks. Thorax, legs. A. Head, thorax, anterior abdomen, lateral. B. Head, thorax, dorsal; note double marking on tibia. C. Metatarsus, dorsal; note distal tarsomere black. D. Metatarsus, ventral; note tibial and tarsal spurs. E. Metatarsus, ventrolateral; note tibial and tarsal spurs; F. Metatarsal claw, ventral.Abbreviations: ar, arolium; fem.m., femoral marking; tar.sp., tarsal spur; tib.m., tibial marking; tib.sp., tibial spur. [A–D: Alabama, female, TRC; E–F: Florida, female, TRC].

FIGURE 15. Abachrysa eureka Banks. A. Forewing. B. Hindwing. Scale applies to both A and B. Forewing length: 19.1 mm; hindwing length: 17.1 mm. Abbreviations: b1, b3, first and third b cells; b’1, first b’ cell; icu1, icu3, first and third intracubital cells; im1, first intramedian cell (mamp1); mcu1, mcu2, mcu3, first, second, and third medial cells; m1-m2, crossvein between mcu1 and mcu2; Mf, furcation of M; rarp1, first radial cell; 1sc-r, first subcostal crossvein. [A, B: Alabama, female, TRC].

FIGURE 16. Abachrysa eureka Banks. Male abdomen. A. Segments A4 to terminus, lateral. B. Callus cerci. C. Segments A6 to terminus, lateral; Note the two sections of the inverted V-shaped dorsal apodeme. D. Eighth and ninth sternites, lateral; arrow indicates fused suture line between S8 and S9; two sections of dorsal apodeme visible. Abbreviations: d.ap., dorsal apodeme; spi, spiracle; S6, S8, S9, sixth, eighth, and ninth sternites; S8+9, fused eighth and ninth sternites; T8, eighth abdominal tergite; T9+e, fused ninth tergite and ectoproct; v.ap., ventral apodeme. [All: Alabama, TRC].

FIGURE 20. Abachrysa eureka Banks. Detail of female abdomen (lateral). Abbreviation: knob, knob of subgenitale; prae, praegenitale (sensu Tjeder 1966). [Alabama, TRC].

FIGURE 21. Abachrysa eureka Banks. Female genitalia. A, B. Genital complex, ventral (A), lateral (B). C. Spermathecal complex and subgenitale, lateral. D. Subgenitale, lateral. E. Spermathecal complex in situ, dorsal. F. Subgenitale knob and praegenitale (sensu Tjeder 1966), lateral, with spermatheca behind. Abbreviations: b.c.c., clear membranous section of bursa copulatrix; b.c.f., fluted section of bursa copulatrix; b.gl., bursal gland; knob, distal knob at tip of subgenitale; prae, praegenitale; sg, subgenitale; slit, longitudinal opening along dorsal margin of spermatheca and spermathecal duct; sp, spermatheca; sp.d., spermathecal duct; sp.i., spermathecal invagination; vel, velum. [All: Alabama, TRC].

FIGURE 22. Abachrysa eureka Banks. Female genitalia.A. Spermathecal complex, dorsal; image made with compound microscope to show brushy section of spermathecal duct (arrows) and slit along dorsal margin of sclerotized section of spermathecal duct. To view: enlarge and follow arrows. B. Colleterial complex. Abbreviations: col.gl., colleterial gland; col.res., colleterial reservoir; g.l., gonapophysis laterales; tr.scl., transverse sclerite. [All: Alabama, TRC].