Graellsia, 62(1): 13-24 (2006) NEW TAXONOMIC AND FAUNISTIC DATA ON THE DUSTY WINGS FROM SENEGAL (INSECTA, NEUROPTERA, CONIOPTERYGIDAE) V. J. Monserrat* ABSTRACT New data on the taxonomy, biology, distribution and/or morphology of eight dusty wing species from Senegal are given. None had previously been recorded from this country. In this African area (where the Afrotropical and Palaearctic Biogeographical Regions contact) a great number of species can be found, mostly afrotropical elements, but also some palaearctic elements and species with a wide circumsaharan distribution are present. A great faunistic similarity between the Senegalese Fauna and the SW Arabian Peninsula fauna is noted, and both areas show many common elements present in the East-West Afrotropical northern borders. Some new synonymies are proposed as follow: Aleuropteryx felix Meinander, 1977 = (Aleuropteryx teleki Sziráki, 1990 = Aleuropteryx transvaalensis Meinander, 1998), Aleuropteryx arabica Meinander, 1977 = (Aleuropteryx cruciata Sziráki, 1990), Coniocompsa silvestriana Enderlein, 1914 = (Coniocompsa arabica Sziráki, 1992 = Coniocompsa fimbrata Tjeder, 1957), Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) greenpeace Monserrat, 1995 = (Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) sclerotica Meinander, 1998), Coniopteryx (Xeroconiopteryx) triantennata Monserrat, 1995 = (Coniopteryx (Xeroconiopteryx) sestertia Meinander, 1998) and Nimboa marro- quina Monserrat, 1985 = (Nimboa manselli Meinander, 1998). Also a replacement name: Coniopteryx (Xeroconiopteryx) conviventibus nom. nov. is proposed for Coniopteryx (Xeroconiopteryx) furcata Meinander, 1998 nec Coniopteryx (Scotoconiopteryx) furcata Meinander, 1983. Key words: Neuroptera, Coniopterygidae, Afrotropical, Senegal, taxonomy, biogeography. RESUMEN Nuevos datos sobre la taxonomía y la faunística de los coniopterígidos de Senegal (Insecta, Neuroptera, Coniopterygidae) Se anotan nuevos datos sobre la taxonomía, biología, distribución y /o morfología de ocho especies de coniopterígidos recolectados en Senegal. Ninguna de ellas había sido citada en este país. Al igual que ocurre en el SO de la Península Arábiga, esta zona del Continente Africano (donde confluyen las Regiones Biogeográficas Afrotropical y Paleártica) es especialmente rica en especies, la mayoría son afrotropicales, pero también están presentes algunos elementos paleárticos y otros de amplia distribución circumsaha- riana. Se anota una marcada similitud faunística entre ambas zonas con elementos comu- * Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física. Facultad de Biología. Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid (Spain). e-mail: [email protected] 14 MONSERRAT nes que alcanzan las zonas septentrionales que al este y el oeste limitan la Región Afrotropical. Se proponen como nuevas sinonimias a: Aleuropteryx felix Meinander, 1977 = (Aleuropteryx teleki Sziráki, 1990 = Aleuropteryx transvaalensis Meinander, 1998), Aleuropteryx arabica Meinander, 1977 = (Aleuropteryx cruciata Sziráki, 1990), Coniocompsa silvestriana Enderlein, 1914 = (Coniocompsa arabica Sziráki, 1992 = Coniocompsa fimbrata Tjeder, 1957), Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) greenpeace Monserrat, 1995 = (Coniopteryx (Coniopteryx) sclerotica Meinander, 1998), Coniopteryx (Xeroconiopteryx) triantennata Monserrat, 1995 = (Coniopteryx (Xeroconiopteryx) ses- tertia Meinander, 1998) y Nimboa marroquina Monserrat, 1985 = (Nimboa manselli Meinander, 1998) y se propone un nombre de reemplazo a: Coniopteryx (Xeroconiopteryx) conviventibus nom. nov. para Coniopteryx (Xeroconiopteryx) furcata Meinander, 1998 nec Coniopteryx (Scotoconiopteryx) furcata Meinander, 1983. Key words: Neuroptera, Coniopterygidae, Afrotropical, Senegal, taxonomía, biogeografía. Introduction Thus, the general knowledge about this conti- nent is still very unsatisfactory and fragmentary, The family Coniopterygidae is one of the most especially in the circumsaharan countries and in the interesting in the order Neuroptera due to its almost West Afrotropical area because most of dusty wings cosmopolitan geographical distribution, high num- records belong to the Mediterranean area, and to ber of species (almost 450) and specimens which its the East and South areas. From the existing biblio- populations usually consist, and in particular for its graphical data can be noticed the scarceness of arti- importance in the control of small phytophagous cles related to Saharan Central and West Africa, pests (Meinander, 1972, 1990; New ,1989; McEwen where only a few records from Guinea Conakry, et al., 2001; etc.). Saharan Democratic Republic, Mali, Senegal, It is accepted that the best known dusty wings Ghana, Togo and Nigeria can be found. fauna is the European, followed by the Western In this article, we contribute new data on the Palaearctic, Afrotropical and remaining regions taxonomy, geographical distribution, biology, (Meinander, 1972, 1990; Aspöck et al., 1980, 2001; morphology and/ or variability of some species of Aspöck & Hölzel, 1996, etc.). Related to the this family from Senegal, which presumptive poor Afrotropical fauna and from the first records by dusty wings fauna had been particularly reported, Enderlein (1906), new data and descriptions have and where only two species: Coniocompsa fimbra- been published on its Palaearctic and Afrotropical ta Tjeder, 1957 and Coniopteryx lindbergi Tjeder, Regions that Meinander (1972) revised. Later arti- 1957 were previously recorded (Ohm & Hölzel, cles have been published after this revision that 1984; Hölzel & Ohm, 1990). Meinander (1990) summarized, and recent articles by Meinander (1992, 1996, 1998a, b), Sziráki (1990, 1994), Sziráki & Greve (1996), Monserrat (1995, Material and methods 1998, 2002), Ohm & Hölzel (1997, 1998, 1999), Hölzel & Ohm (1990) and Hölzel et al. (1999) have The recorded material was collected at sea level contributed to the knowledge of the African dusty (0-5 m) in Sali (14º26’28’’ N, 17º1’10’’ W), mostly wings. Many biogeographical interesting aspects on at light, during three samplings nights (25-27 the relationships among Palaearctic, Afrotropical August 2004), but some other material collected on and Oriental dusty wings fauna have been reported arboreal vegetation is also reported. For each of the by Hölzel & Ohm (1990), Aspöck & Hölzel (1996), eight collected species a previously known geo- Monserrat (1995, 1996, 2002), Meinander (1996), graphic distribution and recorded plant substrate Sziráki (1998) and Hölzel (1998). are noted. The general taxonomy, systematic and All these papers have contributed new data on terminology used for the different species is that biology, taxonomy, morphology, variability, distri- used for this family by Meinander (1972, 1990). bution and biogeography, but in most of the species The proposed synonymies are not only based in the level of knowledge is still very limited, and the the recent and very good original descriptions of degree of intra-specific variability is probably wide the species proposed as synonymies (where data and still underestimated (Aspöck & Hölzel, 1996; on its general morphology and genitalia are ade- Meinander, 1996, 1998a). quately figured and reported) that made unneces- NEW DATA ON DUSTY WINGS FOR SENEGAL 15 sary the study of its type series, but also in our own Aspöck, 1978, known from Morocco, may be cons- criteria and experience on afrotropical dusty wings pecific with this species. (African and SW Arabian Peninsula faunas) as SENEGAL: Sali, 0 m, 25-27 August 2004, 1 m at light, V. J. much as many other previously studied material by Monserrat. author, not recorded in this contribution. Data of such information, opinions and studied material are recorded in the discussions and in the cited The same biogeographical and taxonomic pro- references. blem occurs with other three species of the same The material remains in the author’s collection genus, all described on a single specimen, and in the Complutense University of Madrid. with a very similar morphology and analogous geographical distribution: Aleuropteryx arabica described by Meinander (1977) from Arabia and Results recorded from Yemen and Oman, Aleuropteryx cruciata described by Sziráki (1990) from Aleuropteryginae Enderlein, 1905 Tanzania and Aleuropteryx dorsalis described by Meinander (1998a) from Botswana. Aleuropterygini Enderlein, 1905 We think that the differences noted (and later maintained) by Sziráki (1990, 1992) seem scarcely Aleuropteryx felix Meinander, 1977: 81 sustainable, and a new synonymy, suggested by = Aleuropteryx teleki Sziráki, 1990: 120 n. syn. Monserrat (1996), is now proposed: = Aleuropteryx transvaalensis Meinander, 1998a: 119 n. syn. A species known from Yemen, very scarcely Aleuropteryx arabica Meinander, 1977: 83 recorded, and with an almost unknown biology, = Aleuropteryx cruciata Sziráki, 1990: 117 n. syn. collected at light and on Tamarix. The now recor- As the previous mentioned species, Aleuropteryx ded new specimen agrees well in its external pig- arabica must also have a wide and similar mentation, morphology, numbers of flagellomers Afrotropical distribution. (21) and genitalia with data reported for this spe- We also think, as very probable, that Aleuropteryx cies by Meinander (1977). dorsalis Meinander, 1998 may be conspecific with the As some other species described from Africa now recorded species. In its description Meinander and Asiatic Afrotropical areas (Arabian Peninsula: (1998a) compared it with the other species of the Yemen and Saudi Arabia) that we cite in this con- Aleuropteryx argentata Tjeder, 1957 group (sensu tribution,