Ann. Mus. civ. S1. nat. Ferrara Vol. 8 2005 [2007] pp.73-78 ISSN 1127-4476

Hemerobiidae of the Afrotropical Region: a review of current knowledge

Herbert Holzel

Eppersdorf 1, A-9371 BrOckl, Austria, e-mail: [email protected]

Africa south of the Sahara has a comparatively small fauna of . Approximately 51 species in seven genera have so far been recorded from the Afrotropical Region. They are ar­ ranged into four subfamilies: Hemerobiinae, Sympherobiinae, Microminae and Notiobiellinae. Of the seven genera five are shared with the Western Palaearctic Region: , , Sympherobius, Psectra and . The other two genera are either pantropical (Notiobiel/a) or endemic to Central Africa (Anapsectra). The majority of African species has only been recorded from the eastern parts of the continent, only 19 species have been found in Western Africa; 10 species occur in the Madagascan subregion and five species were also recorded from the Arabian peninsula.

Key words - Hemerobiidae, Afrotropical Region, distribution, biogeography

I ntrod uction The most important paper on the Heme­ robiidae of the world was published by The family Hemerobiidae - brown la­ Oswald (1993). In a revision and cladistic cewings - contains approximately 550 analysis of the world genera of Hemerobii­ species that are collectively distributed on dae he recognized nine subfamilies and 25 all continents except Antarctica. Adults are extant genera. Four of these subfamilies, generally believed to be predators, while Hemerobiinae, Sympherobiinae, Notiobiel­ all known larvae are strictly predaceous. linae and Microminae have been reported Most species are arboreal and few are from Subsaharan Africa. A fifth subfamily, associated with low vegetation. Afrotropi­ Megalominae, with only the genus Mega­ cal Hemerobiids received little systematic lomus has been reported from Northwe­ attention before 1961, when Bo Tjeder's stern Africa, but is otherwise absent. Sub­ paper on the Hemerobiidae of Southern saharan Africa and the Western Palaear­ Africa was published. Tjeder recognized ctic share five genera: Hemerobius, We­ 22 species in seven genera, 10 species sma elius , Sympherobius, Psectra and Mi­ he described as new. In the following 40 cromus; two more genera are either pan­ years many papers, consisting largely of tropical (Notiobiel/a) or endemic to Central descriptive treatments and accounts of Africa (Anapsectra). To date, 51 species local and regional faunas were published. referred to these seven genera have been Most of these studies were carried out by recorded from Subsaharan Africa. V.J. Monserrat who examined most avai­ This number compares well with the lable African types and proposed many faunas of other regions. We now know 64 synonyms. At the same time he described species in 7 genera in the Western Pa­ six new African species. In the course of laearctic Region (As pock et aI., 2001), 61 his studies he also published a systematic species in 6 genera, in America north of checklist of the Hemerobiidae of the world Mexico (Penny et al., 1997), 111 species (Monserrat, 1990). in ca. 20 genera in South America {Penny,

73 Proceedings of the IX International Symposium on Neuropterology

Fig. 1 - Recorded distribution of: Wesmaelius nubi/us; Hemerobius reconditus; Sympherobius fal/ax (only Sub­ saharan); Micromus sjoestedti.

1977), and 34 species in 10 genera in the that covers West- and Central Africa along Australian Region (New, 1988). the equator. This is essentially a barrier As I have already indicated (H6lzel & that divides the continent into two different Ohm, 2002) the distribution of and savannah areas (lilies, 1971). The only plants on the African continent is influenced effective way for dispersal is through a by the extensive area of lowland rainforest small corridor in East Africa, between the

74 H. HOIzel - Hemerobiidae of the A fro tropica I region: a review of current knowledge large lakes and the high East African occurs in the Mediterranean Region and in mountains and which eventually terminates Yemen (Fig. 1). in the Ethiopian highlands. It is therefore The subfamily Microminae contains a not surprising that the largest numbers of few interesting, widespread species. Mi­ Hemerobiidae have been recorded from cromus timidus is the most common spe­ the eastern half of the continent. cies in Africa. It is distributed from West Africa over the whole region, the Mada­ Material gascan subregion, to the Oriental and Australian Regions. M. sjoestedti occurs in The basic information for the compilation of the whole region, from the Cape Verde species in Table 1 originates from the following Islands in the West to the Arabian Penin­ papers: Van der Weele (1909a, b), Navas sula in the East (Fig. 1). It is closely re­ 1910, 1914, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1934, 1936), lated to M. canariensis Esben-Petersen, Fraser (1951, 1952, 1955, 1957), Kimmins 1936 on the Canary Islands and to M. (1936,1939,1952,1959), Tjeder (1961,1963, 1976), Penny (1977), New (1988), Monserrat plagatus in the Madagascan subregion. M. (1984, 1990a, b, c, 1991, 1992a, b, 1993,2004), africanus is another widespread species Monserrat & Deretsky (1999), Oswald (1993), over Subsaharan Africa and the Mada­ Penny ef al. (1997), Aspbck ef al. (2001), Hbl­ gassis. Finally, M. at/anticus should be zel (1995, 1998, 2001, 2002), Hblzel & Ohm mentioned, it occurs on the island of St. (1990, 2002), H61zel et al. (1999), Ohm & H61- Helena, far distant in the Atlantic Ocean. zel (1982,1995, 1997, 1998). The species seems to be related to M. Besides the published records, material africanus (Tjeder, 1976). collected by the author over the past 20 years The fourth subfamily Notiobiellinae con­ in Africa has been included in this study. tains three genera. One of them is Anapsectra with two endemic species, Results only once collected in Central Africa. Few records are available for species of the The following checklist demonstrates genus Psectra. P. capensis has been our present knowledge of the Afrotropical described from the Cape in South Africa fauna of Hemerobiidae and indicates their and P. mozambica has only been found known distribution. It shows that in the once in Mozambique. Some records from subfamily Hemerobiinae the majority of West and East Africa exist of P. jeanne/i, species has only been recorded in the the most interesting from the Cape Verde east or southeast of the region. Only two Islands (Fig. 2). Almost all 14 species of species, Hemerobius productus and Notiobiel/a seem to be spread over the Wesmaelius nubilus have also been re­ whole region as they are recorded both corded in West Africa, the latter extending from West and East Africa. Three species, moreover to the Arabian Peninsula (Fig. 1). N. nitidu/a, N. peterseni and N. rosea have One undescribed species of the genus been recorded from the Madagassis, Wesmaelius occurs only on the Cape nitidula also from the Cape Verde Islands. Verde Islands. W. praenubi/us and H. binigripunctatus are endemic to the Ma­ scarene Islands, H. nairobicus occurs on Conclusion the Comoros as well as in Yemen, H. reconditus is recorded from the Cape in This study provides the first overview of South Africa to the Western parts of the the known Afrotropical species of the fami­ Arabian Peninsula (Fig. 1). ly Hemerobiidae. They are arranged into The only species of the subfamily four groups on the basis of their current Sympherobiinae, Sympherobius fal/ax distribution. Group 1 shows the majority of shows panafrican distribution and also species (25) recorded from East and

75 Proceedings of the IX International Symposium on Neuropterology

Hemerobiidae of the Afrotropical Region 1 = East and Southeast Africa; 2 = Madagascan subregion; 3 = Arabian peninsula; 4 = West Africa

Hemerobiinae Stephens. 1829 oblongus Kimmins, 1935 paralfefus Navas, 1936 Hemerobius Linnaeus, 1758 pfagatus Navas, 1934 2 abditus Tjeder, 1961 (malgassicus Fraser, 1951) anomalus Monserrat,1992 (zonarius Navas, 1936) aperTjeder, 1961 sjoestedtiv. d. Weele, 1910 2 3 4 binigripunctatus Fraser, 1957 2 (capensis Esben-Petersen, 1920) ceraticus Navas, 1924 (braunsi Navas, 1929) deceptor Navas, 1914 (laxus Navas, 1930) disparilis Navas, 1936 timidus Hagen, 1853 2 4 elatus Navas, 1914 (navigatorum Brauer, 1867) falciger Tjeder, 1963 (vinaceus Gerstacker,1885) nairobicus Navas, 1910 2 3 (pusillus Gerstacker, 1894) natafensis Tjeder, 1961 (sauteri Esben-Petersen, 1912) nemorensis Kimmins, 1952 (weryae Lestage, 1923) productus Tjeder, 1961 4 (modestus Navas, 1936) reconditus Navas, 1914 3 (diminutus Nakahara, 1956) (abyssinicus Esb.-Pet., 1928) (delamarei Auber, 1956) (errans Navas, 1914) (insulanus Navas, 1925) (e/lenbergeri Navas, 1933) (insularis Hagen, 1886) rudebecki Tjeder, 1961 (multinervosus Fraser, 1955) (paral/elus Fraser, 1957) Wesmaefius KrOger, 1922 barnardi Tjeder, 1961 Notiobiellinae Nakahara, 1960 nubi/us Kimmins, 1929 3 4 majusculus Kimmins, 1959 Anapsectra Tjeder, 1975 obscuratus Navas, 1936 berothoide Monserrat, 1992 praenubi/us Fraser, 1961 2 med/eri Tjeder, 1975 4 fumosus Tjeder, 1961 Psectra Hagen, 1866 Sympherobiinae Comstock, 1918 capensis Kimmins, 1935 Sympherobius Banks, 1904 jeannefi Navas,1914 4 (antennata Navas, 1931) (allax (Navas, 1908 ) 3 4 (congensis Navas, 1931) (amicus Navas, 1915) mozambica Tjeder, 1961 (smitheri Nakahara, 1960) (brincki Tjeder, 1961) Notiobiefla Banks, 1909 (impar Tjeder, 1961) africana Navas, 1929 4 (nigricornis Tjeder, 1961) barnardi Monserrat, 1984 4 bella Navas, 1930 4 Microminae KrOger, 1922 costa/is Banks, 1918 4 Micromus Rambur, 1842 decora Kimmins, 1929 hargreavsi Kimmins, 1936 4 at/anticus Tjeder, 1976 4 mariliae Monserrat, 1984 4 acutipennis Kimmins, 1956 nitidula Navas, 1910 2 4 africanus v. d. Weele, 1910 4 peterseni Banks, 1932 2 (ludicrus Navas, 1933) (punctata Tjeder, 1961) (lanceolatus Navas, 1910) rose a Kimmins, 1933 2 4 (macu/ipes Fraser, 1957) semeriai Monserrat, 1984 4 (Stenomus nesaeus Navas, 1922) turneri Kimmins, 1933 berzosai Monserrat, 1992 ugandensis Kimmins, 1939 4 carpentieri Lestage, 1925 vicina Kimmins, 1936

Addendum: Monserrat & Deretsky (1999) report on a single female in the collections of Zool. Museum, Berlin, that evidently belongs to the palaearctiC genus Drepanepteryx Leach, 1815 and looks extremely similar to the European Dr. algida (Erichson in Middendorff, 1851). Supposedly it has been collected in tropical Africa (Came­ roon, Lake Tschad). If these collecting data are correct the subfamily Drepanepteryginae should be added to the list of Afrotropical Hemerobiidae.

76 H. HOIzel- Hemerobiidae of the Afrotropical region: a review of current know/edge

tierter Katalog der Neuropterida (Insecta: Raphi­ dioptera, Megaloptera, ) der West­ palaarktis. Denisia, 2: 1-606. Fraser F. C., 1951 - A revision of the Madagascar Neuroptera with a key to their identifications and descriptions of new species. Le Natura/iste Malga­ che, 3: 15-31. Fraser F. C., 1952 - New addditions to the Fauna of Madagascar. Odonata and Neuroptera. Memoires de I'Institut Scientifique de Madagascar, Ser. E, 1: 135-143. Fraser F. C., 1955 - Nouvelles notes sur les Neuropteres de Madagascar. Le Naturaliste Malgache, 7: 127-137. Fraser F. C., 1957 - Odonata and Neuroptera of Reunion. Memoires de I'Institut Scientifique de Madagascar, Ser. E, 8: 15-28. Holzel H., 1995 - Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Neuropteren der Arabischen Halbinsel. I. Chrysopidae und Heme­ robiidae von Oman und Yemen (Neuroptera: Chryso­ pidae, Hemerobiidae). Entomofauna, 16: 437-452. Holzel H., 1998 - Zoogeographical features of Neu­ roptera of the Arabian peninsula. Acta Zoologica Fennica, 209: 129-140. Holzel H., 2001 - Neuroptera in den tropischen Montanwaldern Ostafrikas (Neuroptera: Chrysopi­ dae). Entomologische Zeitschrift, 111 (1 0): 290-295. Holzel H., 2002 - Neuroptera collected by the Ger­ Fig. 2 - Recorded distribution of Psectra capensis = man Yemen expeditions 1996, 1998 and 2000 open circle, Ps. jeanneli = black circle, Ps. mozam­ (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae, Berothi­ bica = star. dae, Mantispidae, Nemopteridae, Myrmeleontidae, Ascalaphidae). Esperiana, 9: 129-146. Southeast Africa, group 2 with 10 species Holzel H. & Ohm P., 1990 - Verbreitung und Phanologie recorded from the Madagascan subregion, kapverdischer Neuropteren (Insecta: Planipennia). group 3 with 5 species occurring on the Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 129: 139-145. Arabian Peninsula as well, and group 4 Holzel H. & Ohm P., 2002 - Patterns in the distribution of Afrotropical Chrysopidae. Acta Zoologica Acade­ with 19 species recorded from West Africa. miae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 48 (Suppl. 2): 121-140. The degree of exploration is by no Holzel H., Ohm P. & Duelli P., 1999 - Contribution to means satisfactory. It is only in East- and the knowledge of Neuroptera of Ethiopia. Entomo­ South Africa that African and European fauna, 20: 345-372. lilies J., 1971 - EinfUhrung in die Tiergeographie. G. entomologists have collected more material Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 91 pp. over the past few decades that could be Kimmins D. E., 1936 - Two new African Hemerobii­ evaluated. Recent collections have also dae (Neuroptera). Annals and Magazine of Natural been made in West Africa, on the Cape History, Ser. 10, 17: 153-158. Kimmins D. E., 1939 - Ephemeroptera and Neuro­ Verde Islands, in Senegal and in Equatorial ptera. Ruwenzori Expedition 1934-1935, 3: 105-115. Guinea. The present knowledge of the Kimmins D. E, 1952 - New species of East African Neuroptera of the Arabian Peninsula is Neuroptera. The Entomologist, 85: 186-190. also satisfactory (H6Izel, 1998). Kimmins D. E., 1959 - Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Neuroptera. Ruwenzori Expedition 1952,2: 63-67. Monserrat V. J., 1984 - Sobre las especies Africa­ Acknowledgements nas del genero Notiobiella Banks, 1909, II. (Neu­ roptera, Planipennia, Hemerobiidae). In: Gepp J., Aspock H. & H61zel H. (Eds) - Progress in world's I wish to thank the referees for their valua­ Neuropterology. Proceedings of the 1st Int. Sympo­ ble comments on the manuscript and particu­ sium on Neuropterology. Graz, 99-124. larly for the linguistic improvement. Monserrat V. J.,1990a - Some brown lacewings from Equatorial Guinea (Neuropteroidea, Planipennia, He­ merobiidae). Journal of African Zoology, 1990: 17-22. References Monserrat V. J., 1990b - Systematic studies on Hemerobiidae (Insecta: Neuroptera). In: Mansell M. Asp6ck H., Holzel H. & Aspock U., 2001 - Kommen- W. & Asp6ck H. (eds) - Advances in Neuroptero-

77 Proceedings of the IX International Symposium on Neuropterology

logy. Proceedings of the 3,d Int. Symposium on Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines, 28: Neuropterology. Pretoria, 67-88. 333-368. Monserrat V. J., 1990c - A systematic checklist of New T. R., 1988 - A Revision of the Australian He­ the Hemerobiidae of the world (Insecta: Neuropte­ merobiidae (Insecta: Neuroptera). Invertebrate Ta­ ra). In: Mansell M. W. & Aspock H. (eds) - Advan­ xonomy, 2: 339-411. ces in Neuropterology. Proceedings of the 3rd Int. Ohm P. & Holzel H., 1982 - Tiergeographische und Symposium on Neuropterology. Pretoria, 215-262. okologische Aspekte der Neuropterenfauna der Monserrat V. J., 1991 - Nuevos datos sobre algunas Kapverden. Courier Forschungsinstitut Sencken­ especies del genero Hemerobius L., 1758 (Insecta, berg, 52: 159-165. Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae). Graellsia, 47: 61-70. Ohm P. & Holzel H., 1995 - Die Neuropteren der Monserrat V. J., 1992a - New data on the Afrotropi­ Seychellen. Entomologisches Nachrichtenblatt cal brown lacewings (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae). (Wien), NF, 2: 3-12. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Ohm P. & Holzel H., 1997 - Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Africa, 55: 123-136. Neuropterenfauna der Maskarenen (Neuroptera: Monserrat V. J., 1992b - On some African species of Coniopterygidae, Hemerobiidae, Chrysopidae, the genus Micromus, 1842 (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Entomofauna, 18: 221-236. Hemerobiidae). In: Canard M., Aspock H. & Man­ Ohm P. & Holzel H., 1998 - A contribution to the sell M.W. (Eds). - Current Research in Neuropfero­ knowledge of the neuropterous fauna of the Como­ logy. Proceedings of the 4h Int. Symposium on ros. The Neuroptera of Mayotte. Acta Zoologica Neuropterology. Bagneres-de-Luchon, 271-278. Fennica, 209: 183-194. Monserrat V. J., 1993 - New data on some species of Oswald J. D., 1993 - Revision and cladistic analysis the genus Micromus Rambur, 1842 (Insecta: Neu­ of the world genera of the family Hemerobiidae roptera: Hemerobiidae). Annali del Museo Civico di (Insecta: Neuroptera). Journal of the New York Storia Naturale "G. Doria" Genova, 89: 477-516. Entomological Society, 1 01: 143-299. Monserrat V. J., 2004 - Nuevos datos sobre algunas Penny N. D., 1977 - Usta de Megaloptera, Neuroptera especies de hemer6bidos (Insecta: Neuroptera: e Raphidioptera do Mexico, America Central, ilhas Hemerobiidae). Heteropterus Revista de Entomo­ Caraibas e America do SuI. Acta Amazonica, 7: 61 pp. logia, 4: 1-26. - not taken into account. Penny N. D., Adams Ph. A. & Stange L. A., 1997 - Monserrat V. J. & Deretsky Z., 1999 - New faunisti­ Species catalog of the Neuroptera, Megaloptera cal, taxonomic and systematic data on Brown La­ and Raphidioptera of America north of Mexico. cewings (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae). Journal of Proceedings of the California Academy of Scien­ Neuropterology, 2: 45-66. ces, 50: 39-114. Navas L., 1908 - Neur6pteros nuevos. Memorias de Tjeder B., 1961 - The Lace-wings of Southern Africa. 4. la Real Academia de Ciencias y Artes de Barcelo­ Family Hemerobiidae. In: Hanstrorn B., Brinck P. & Ru­ na, 6: 401-423. debek G., (eds) - South African Ufe, 8: 296408. Navas L., 1910 - Hemer6bidos (Ins. Neur.) nuevos. Tjeder B., 1963 - A new Dyshemerobius from Nor­ Broteria: Serie zoologica, 9: 69-90. thern Rhodesia (Neur. Hemerobiidae). Opuscula Navas L., 1914 - Insectes Nevropteres 1. Planipen­ Entomologica, 28 (3): 181-184. nia et Mecoptera. In: Voyage de Ch. Alluaud et R. Tjeder B., 1975 - A new genus and species of the Jeannel en Afrique Orientale (1911-1912). Resul­ Hemerobiidae from Nigeria (Insecta: Neuroptera). tats scientifiques, 43 pp. Entomologica scandinavica, 6: 115-118. Navas L., 1924 - Neuroptera and Mecoptera. In: Tjeder B., 1976 -11. Neuroptera In: La Faune terre­ Zoological results of the Swedish expedition to stre de L'/le de Sainte Helene. Musee Royal de Central Africa 1921. Insecta. Arkiv for Zoologi, 16 l'Afrique Centrale, Annales, Serie IN-S, Sciences (13): 1-3. Zoologiques, 251: 2-17. Navas L., 1929 - Insecta Nova Series 13-14. Memo­ Van der Weele H. J., 1909a - 13. Neuroptera, 2. rie della Pontificia Accademia delle Scienze Nuovi Planipennia et Panorpata. In: Wissenschaftliche Lincei, 12: 15-32. Ergebnisse der Schwedischen Zoologischen Ex­ Navas L., 1930 - Insectes du Congo Beige. 4.Series. pedition nach dem Kilimandjaro, dem Meru und Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines, 19: den umgebenden Massai-Steppen Deutsch­ 305-336. Ostafrikas, 2: 11-22. Navas L., 1934 - Insectos de Madagascar. Segunda Van der Weele H. J., 1909b - Les Planipennia re­ Serie. Revista de la Academia de Ciencias Exac-tas, cueillis par Ie Prof. Voeltzkow a Madagascar et Fisico-Qufmicas y Naturales de Zaragoza, 18: 41-66. dans les lies environ nantes. Bulletin scientifique de Navas L., 1936 - Insectes du Congo Beige. 9. Series. la France et de la Belgique, 42: 61-68.

78 Bibliography of the Neuropterida

Bibliography of the Neuropterida Reference number (r#): 11955

Reference Citation: Hölzel, H. 2005 [2007.??.??]. Hemerobiidae of the Afrotropical region: a review of current knowledge. in Pantaleoni, R. A.; Letardi, A.; Corazza, C. (eds.). Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Neuropterology (20-23 June 2005, Ferrara, Italy). Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Ferrara 8:73-78.

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Notes:

File: File produced for the Bibliography of the Neuropterida (BotN) component of the Lacewing Digital Library (LDL) Project, 2012.