New Zealand Entomologist, 1998, Vol. 21 11 A species of the Family Sisyridae (Insecta: Neuroptera) in New Zealand K.A.J. WISE Auckland Museum, Private Bag 92018, Auckland ABSTRACT The Family Sisyridae (sponge-flies), genus Sisyra Burmeister, 1839 and the Australian species Sisyra rufistigma Tillyard, 1916 are recorded for the first time in New Zealand. The species is found to be established at one locality and is also recorded from two others. Keywords: Neuroptera, Sisyridae, Sisyra rufistigma, new record. INTRODUCTION In 1997, the Auckland Museum Entomologist, Mr John W. Early, collected a specimen of an unrecorded lacewing on the west coast near Auckland. Since then the author has collected the same species at two localities in North Auckland and this has now been recognised as being in the Family Sisyridae (Neuroptera). This family, commonly known as spongilla-flies or sponge-flies as the aquatic larvae are associated with freshwater sponges, has not been recorded previously in New Zealand. Males and females have been taken at one locality during the course of six weeks and the species would appear to be established. They were swept from overhanging foliage on both banks of a weir pond (Fig. 1) on the Kerikeri River. A search for immatures, by taking bottom and debris samples, has been unsuccessful. The system of wing venation nomenclature and the genitalia terminology used here follow those of Tjeder (1957). Fig. 1: Weir pond on the Kerikeri River, North Auckland. New Zeccland Entomologist, 1998, Vol. 21 SYSTEMATICS Family Sisyridae Antennae moniliform. Ocelli absent. Anterior wing with more than 3 simple costal cross-veins; Subcosta fused apically with Radius, or separate; one branched Radial sector from Radius; length to ca. 6.5mm. Posterior wing with one or two cross-veins from Radius to Radial sector. Genus Sisyra Burmeister, 1839 Sisyra Burmeister, 1839, Handh. Ent. 2: 975. Anterior wing with Subcosta fused apically with Radius, posterior to pterostigma, or separated and joined by subapical cross-vein; no series of gradate cross-veins posterior to Radius. Sisyra rufistipa Tillyard, 1916 (Figs. 2-6) Sisyra rufistigrnn Tillyard, 1916, Proc. Linn. Sor. N.S. 1V 41 (2): 314315. Antennae ca. 1/2 length of anterior wings, dark brown basally, pale towards apex. Head and body brown; thorax laterally grey with darker patches; wings with pink pterostigma; legs pale, slightly darker on femur and tibia. Antennae with basal segment (scape) short, swollen internally, medium brown (as dorsum of head); basal flagellar segment (pedicel) shining brown, larger than remaining segments; ca.36-38 flagellar segments broad distally except apical tapering, dark brown with dark brown setae in basal 2/3 of antennae, pale with pale setae in apical 1/3. Segments of antennae: dgca.38-39, 9 9ca.39-40. Head brown, dorsum flat, brown with narrow, pale stripe above each eye. Eyes grey. Frons pale. Mouthparts pale. Maxillary palpi 5-segmented; segments 1-2 short, 3 longer, 4 short expanded apically, 5 elongate, pointed, length ca. segments 1-3together, broadest at hase but only one side attached to 4 so offset, palp appears twisted. Labial palpi 3- segmented, apical with broad base. Thorax brown. Pronotum transverse, twice as wide as long, with anterior and posterior depressions containing dark brown patches. Mesonoturn anteriorly with dark brown median patch, with median stripe to posterior margin, on each side a semi-circular pale strip around dark brown lateral boss posterior to wing insertion. Mesothorax-metathorax laterally grey with darker patches. Legs pale with slightly darker greyish patches on femur and tibia of each leg, darkest on anterior legs. Wings (Fig. 2) elongate, rounded at apex. Anterior wings with basal costal cross- veins pale, 5 or more following with dark brown patches; pterostigma areawith veins and cross-veins pink; most cross-veins posterior to Radius with a dark brown patch, 4 dark spots at ends of anals; membrane pale yellowish-brown, usually with central longitudinal greyish streak between veins with darker stippled or shaded greyish areas extending towards veins on each side, a quadrangular patch inside basal branch of Cubitus 1, marginal and sub-marginal branching of veins with darker shading at point of each branching with a pale 'eve-' between branches; a clear, elongate streak between branches of Medius, in region of intervein crease, with central triangular extension on base of Medius Anterior; two clear streaks on folds in cubital-anal area. Posterior wings with basal costal cross-veins pale, darker towards pterostigma; pterostigma area with veins and crossveins pink extending further basally than in forewings; veins and Radial sectors pale, some darker basally. Membrane almost uniformly pale with greyish shading in parts; clear elongate streak anterior to Medius and Medius 1 extends anteriorly to Radial sector on cross- vein; similar streak on cubital-anal fold. N~zuZealand Entomologist, 19911, Vol. 21 13 Wing venation (Fig. 3).Anterior wings with Costa (C) gradually curved, costal area narrow, costal cross-veins simple, pterostigma not differentiated; one basal cross-vein Subcosta (Sc) to Radius (R), Sc fused with R apically with forked veinlet at margin; remainder of veins, except anals, also with forked beinlets at margin, trichosors present; one Radial sector (Rs) with 4 branches; three cross-veins R-Rs, one basal Rs3-4; Medius (M) with antenor and posterior branches (MA, MP), one short cross- ~einRs4-MA; gradate cross-leins absent; Cubitus (C) arises separately with two branches, three cross-veins to M (apical variable, missing in one specimen), one Cul- 2; three anals (A),cross-veins A1-Cu2, A1-2. Posterior wings with C gradually curved, costal area narrow, costal cross-veins simple, pterostigma not differentiated; Sc fused with R apically in pterostigma, with forked veinlet at margin; veins Rsl to Cul with veinlets to margin, some forked; one Rs with 4 branches, two cross-veins R-Rsl; M branched, sinuous basal cross-vein to Rs, cross-vein MA-Rs4; Cu branched, one apical cross-vein Cul-MP, Cul long; two A, cross-beinsA1-Cu2, A1-2. Abdomen brown, paler caudally Genitalia (Figs 4-6). 8.Tergite 8 small, narrow each side.Tergite 9 paired, small each side. Ectoprocts fused, small with trichobothria, caudal margin of each concave; gonarcus thin band; large entoprocessus paired, each side broad at base, twisted inwardswith two points apically. Sternite IX small. 9. Tergite 7 small, dorsal. Tergite 8 paired, lateral, separate dorsally. Ectoproct small, arched dorsally; in lateral view short, triangular, with trichobothria. Tergite 9 arising caudally from 8, extended laterally and ventrally, in latcral view a large, deep plate; terminally with a pair of lateral gonapophyses raised vertically, apices curved. Measurements. o" wings: anterior ca.4.44.3mm, posterior ca.3.6-3.9 mm. 9 wings: anterior ca.4.6-5.0 mm, posttx-ior ca.3.2-4.2 mm. Material examined. AUCKLAND WEST COAST: 19,Bethells Beach, Waiti Stream, jm, streamside grasses and sedges, swept, Q11398 788,l .iv.1997, J.W. Early, (AMNZ 6459). BAY OF ISLANDS: 19, Kerikeri, Rainbow Falls, 60 m, Kerikeri River above falls, PO5 966 647, swept, 14.i.1998; 25~7,49 9, 12.ii.1998; ld*, 13.ii.1998; 19, 22.ii.1998; lo", 19, Kerikeri River above falls, swept right bank PO5 966 647, 23.ii. 1998, K.A.J.1h7ise, (AMNZ 23358-23361, 6460, 6462-6467). HOKIANGA HARBOUR: 19,Opononi, Pakanae, Awapokanui Stream, 4 m, 006 492 331, at light, 15.i.1998, K.AJ.Wise (AMNZ 6461). All specimens are in Auckland Museum collections (AMNZ). Habitat As the common names suggest, sisyrids are mostly associated with sponges in freshwater. The three localities for the New Zealand specimens are all adjacent to water, at Bethells Beach and Hokianga by streams, and at Kerikeri by a large pond above a weir. Only one or two species of freshwater sponges are recorded from this country (Gee 1931; Marples 1962) but not further north than Auckland. So far no othcr information has been found. Despite this, it appears that the sponge-fly species is established in North Auckland and the situation may be similar to that found by New (1984) for Fiji where freshwater sponges had apparently not been recorded. A search has been made above the Rainbow Falls in the Kerikeri River in March (late summer) when the river was very low. Bottom samples and rock scrapings were taken in the weir pond, amongst rocks above the pond and below the weir. Although many aquatic insects were collected, no sisyrid immatures were found and no sponges were recognised. lVm Zealand Ento~ndopt,1998, Vol. 21 Figs 2,3: Sisjm rujrtipn Tillyard, 1916. New Zealand. Wings and venation. For abbreviations see description. Figs 4-6: SiyarufistigrnaTillyard, 1916. New Zealand. Genitalia. 4, 8 entoprocessus, lateral; 3, d entoprocessus, dorsal; 6,9 lateral. Remarks The sudden discovery of this species in New Zealand is extraordinary as there has never been any indication before that aquatic sponge-flies (Neuroptera) occur here. It seems possible, therefore, that this is an Australian species which has been blown across the Tasman Sea and has become established. Consequently, specimens have been considered in relation to that fauna which currently consists of five species in the genus Sisyra and one in Sisyrina (Smithers 1973; New 1996). The species in New Zealand, with its pink pterostigma, traces to Sisya rujistipa in the key of Tillyard (1916) and has wing venation as he figured for that species, which was recorded by both Tillyard (1916) and Smithers (1973) from New South Wales, south-eastern Australia. Most Australian species have been eliminated, as not being conspecific with the New Zealand material, and presently the species is considered to be Sisyra mfistigma. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to Dr.