Ascalaphidae, Or Owlflies, Are Large, Some- Times Showy Insects That

Norman D. Penny [*I Abstract dae, as both these other groups are probably owlfly predators, and Odonata have actually The higher classification of New World Ascalaphi- been seen to capture Ascalaphidae in flight, dae is modified to reflect new information and many when flushed from their resting place. The changes proposed in various papers over the past 70 years. The attempt has been made to retain as much wings at rest are folded over the body and 2s possible the traditional conceptual structure, whe- long, knobbed antennae are placed in front of never warranted. Keys and synoptic descriptions are the head and parallel with the substrate, thus provided for American subfamilies, tribes and genera. giving the body a long, very narrow form [As- One new synonomy (Episperches Gerstaecker = Amoea Lefebvre), one new name (Ascalobyas for Byas Ramburl calaphinael, or wings are held out to the sides, and one new genus (Neohaploglenius) are proposed. as in Odonata [Haplogleninae). During the daytime, adult owlflies normally rest .on grass stems; small, dead tree branches, etc.; and when disturbed fly low and quickly to another resting place. Larvae rest on plant foliage or Ascalaphidae, or owlflies, are large, some- sand with enlarged mandibles open, waiting times showy insects that occasionally were for soft-bodied insect prey, or actively pursuing even placed together with butterflies in the them. genus Papiiio. Some European species are day-flying, and some have boldly patterned There are two intieresting geographical wings. However, trying to identify owlflies is anomalies in the distribution of Ascalaphidae. difficult because of the many nomenclatural This family is much more common and diverse changes in scattered literature. Little progress in south temperate America than in north has been made by specialists during the past temperate America. Argentina has 19 species 50 years to summarize these modifications into and subspecies in eight genera, while the a form that other specialists can use. The United States has only 10 species and sub- purpose~ ~ of this paper~. is to provide neces- species in three genera. The second anomaly sary nomenclature, illustrations, keys and de- is that Chile has no owlflies. Although the scriptions for adequate determination of these country is quite diverse in habitats, the Andean neuropterans to generic level. barrier appears to have prevented the intro- duction of Ascalaphidae Ascalaphidae are often common, yet little . understood Neuroptera in the New World. They closely resemble Odonata, to the point that 6 the genus of dragonfly model can sometimes be identified. Ascalaphidae are aerial preda- The first and only good, modern treatment 4 tors, often occupying an ecological niche very of the Ascalaphidae was written by Weele similar to Odonata. Most adult feeding activity (19081. A later monograph on South American seems to be confined to dusk (and perhaps Ascalaphidae by Navas (1913) used the same dawn), thus allowing Odonata reign of the classification system as Weele (except for skies during the daytime and bats at night. placing Stilbopterygidae in Haplogleninae] and Such fortuitous dividing of feeding time is added a few more species, but lacked the de- probably a survival mechanism for Ascalaphi- tailed descriptions and illustrations of the earlier work. Since 1908 there has been no Haploglenidae Newman, 1853, Zoologist, 11: comprehensive treatment of Ascalaphidae for Holophthalmi MacLachlan, 1871, J. Linn. Soc. Lond., 11: 233 (invalid, not based on existing genusl. North or Central America. Holophthalminae Weele, 1908, Coll . Zool. Edm. Selys The subfamily classification of Weele was Longchamps, 8: 26 [invalid, not based on existing based partly on the earlier work of MacLachlan genusl. (1871). Both used subfamily names which were Verticillecerinae Orfila, 1949, Annuls SOC. cient. Argent., not based on existing generic names, and until 148: 188. recently, subsequent authors followed this Ascaloptynginae MacLeod, 1970. Psyche, Camb., 77: scheme. In conformity with Article 29 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Type Genus: Haploglenius Burmeister subfamily names have been changed to con- form to previously described, but seldom used, This subfamily is characterized by entire terminology. compound eyes; antennae short to long, but always longer than thorax; long, narrow wings; cubital fork of hindwings well developed. Ascalaphidae Lefhbvre, 1842, Guerin's Mag. Zool., 4: Ta- Weele (1908) listed 19 genera and 45 ble 92. species within the Haplogleniinae, of which 6 genera and 18 species were from the Western Type Genus: Ascalaphus Fabricius Hemisphere. Penny (1977) listed 5 genera and 26 species from Central and South America. The family Ascalaphidae can be character- In his treatment ot South American Asca- ized by: holometabolous insects of the neu- laphidae Navas (1913) further divided this ropteran suborder Planipennia. Active terrestrl- subfamily into three tribes: Albardini, Epls- al or arboreal larvae with long hollow mandi- perchini and Neuroptyngini. The first of these bles used to suck body fluids from prey; tribes contains a single American species, dorsocaudal margin of head bilobed; prominent now considered to be part of the family Stil- lateral projections on thoracic and abdominal bopterygidae. The second tribe contains the segments. Adult antennae filiform, terminating type genus of the subfamily, Haploglenius, and in an oval or elliptical club. Eyes large, glo- must take the name Haplogleniini. Banks bose, either entire or divided. Thorax stout, pi- (19151 pointed out that the type genus of Neu- lose. Legs elongate, with five tarsal segments. roptyngini , Neuroptyx McC lendon, was a syno Abdomen elongate, thin. Fore-and hindwings nym of Haploglenius, so that the third tribe usually similar with dense network of cross- takes the next available name, Verticillecerini veins. Orfila. The tribes of Haplogleniinae can be separated using the following key. KEY TO SUBFAMILIES OF ASCALAPHIDAE 1A. Eyes entire, not divided by transverse KEY TO AMERICAN TRIBES OF HAPLOGLENIINAE sulcus [Fig. 2) . Haplogleniinae New. 1A. Forewing with prominent axillary angle at base of anal margin (wing cells distal to 10. Eyes divided by transverse sulcus into axillary angle shorter than within angle) two parts, superior and inferior, equal or (Figs. 3, 6, 71.. .Verticillecerini Orfila unequal (Fig. 1) . Ascalaphinae Lef. 1B. Forewing without prominent axillary angle at base of anal margin (wing cells distal Subfamily HAPLOGLENIINAE Newman, 1853 of axillary angle equal to or longer than Olophthme LefBbvre, 1842, Guerin's Mag. Zool., 4: Ta- along basal curve] ble 92 (invalid, not based on existlng genus). (Fig. 4) . Haplogleniini Newman Map 1 - Known geographical distribution of the tribe Haplogleniini. - - .- Review. -.. Map 2 - Known geographical distribution of the tribe Verticillecerini. Tribe HAPLoGLENIIN1 Newman, 1853 typy. Type species of Episperches is Epis. perches vacuus (Gerstaecker) by present desig- Haploglenini Newrnan, 1853, Zoologist, 11 : nation. Episperchini Navas, 1913, Broteria, 10: 206 The characters used to separate Amoea Type Genus: Haploglenius Burmeister and Episperches have been the more rounded hindwing and in males the wider basal abdo- This tribe is characterized by long, narrow minal segments. These are both characters wings without an axillary angle of the forewing. subject to much variation within bo,th genera. There has been much confusion as to the For instance, the hindwing of Amoea immacu- generic, and even tribal classification, created lata [Olivier) appears to be wider than Episper- from Weele's (1908) monograph. For example, ches arenosus Walker, but narrower than Epis- within VVeele's genus Haploglenius were perches impediens Walker. The width of the species with very distinct axillary angles of abdomen often depends on how the specimen the wings, others without. One of the key dried, and present specimens of Episperches characters to generic identification was a species are as narrow as Amoea. It being darkened costal wing margin, but all shades virtually impossible to separate the genera, can be found, from dark black to pale yellow the only reasonable solution seems to .be syno- to clear. Thus, the genera within this tribe nomy. have had to be recharacterized. In the present Amoea is confined to South and Central study, three genera of American Haploglenini America from Argentina north to Guatemala. are recognized: Amoea, Ascalobyas and Haplo- Penny (19771 listed II valid species within the glenius. genera (Amoea and Episperches] . There has not been a comprehensive treatment of the KEY TO GENERA OF HAPLOGLENllNl genera given since Weele (1908) and Navas (1913). 1A. Antennae longer than distance to second Rs fork of forewing Genus Ascalobyas new name [Fig. 41 ............................ 2 [Fig. 5) 1B. Antennae shorter than distance to second Byas Rarnbur, 1842, Hist. nat. des lnsectes Nevropteres. Rs fork of forewing p. 361. [preoccupied by Byas Dalman, 1820; and Byas (Fig. 51 ..........Ascalobyas new name Morris. 1837). 2A. Hindwing with 2A present, long Type Species: Byas microcerus Rambur, by [Fig. 4) ........Haplo glenius Burmeister present designation. 26. Hindwing with 2A absent or extremely short This genus is easily separated from others (Fig. 3) ...............Amoea Lefebvre of this tribe by shorter antennae. All known species have a dark costal margin of the wings. Genus Amoea Lefebvre, 1842 Ascalobyas is presently known from

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