Zootaxa 4273 (1): 019–030 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2017 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4273.1.2 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:347F3413-9BB2-4891-BD26-F4642578AF69 New data on brown lacewing genus Wesmaelius Krüger, 1922 from China (Neuroptera, Hemerobiidae), with a key to Chinese species YANG ZHAO1, YANLIN TIAN2& ZHIQI LIU2,3 1Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Jiangsu Hilly Area, No.6 Xianyin South Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210046, China 2Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China 3Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract A new species of the genus Wesmaelius is described from China: Wesmaelius dissectus sp. nov., which was found in Si- chuan province. Wesmaelius ravus (Withycombe, 1923) was recorded in China for the first time in Hubei province and Inner Mongolia. The Wesmaelius helanensis Tian & Liu, 2011 is redescribed, with the first discovery of female in China. Updated keys to the adult males and females of the Wesmaelius from China are also provided. Key words: Hemerobiidae, Hemerobiinae, Wesmaelius, new species, new record, China Introduction The genus Wesmaelius Krüger was erected in 1922 based on the type species Hemerobius concinnus Stephens (1836). It belongs to the subfamily Hemerobiinae (Latreille, 1802) and is widely distributed in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. The genus Wesmaelius has a diversity species in the temperate regions of North America and Eurasia (Yang 1980; Oswald 1993; Tian & Liu 2011). Tjeder (1936) described the first Wesmaelius species from China named Boriomyia sinica which was later synonymized with W. quettanus (Navás, 1930), based on only one male specimen from Gansu province, and found the species W. sufuensis from Xinjiang province in 1968. There was a somewhat controversy about the state of genus Wesmaelius. Tjeder regarded the genus Kimminsia Killington, 1937 as a subgenus of Wesmaelius in 1961. However, according to the characteristics of wings and genitalia, Yang (1980) proposed Wesmaelius and Kimminsia were two valid, but closed related genera. Wesmaelius was diagnosed by the forewing characteristics, i.e., the crossvein between ORB1 and ORB2 is present and the crossvein r is present distal to the origin of ORB1 in the hind wing, while in the genus Kimminsia this crossvein in the forewing is absent and the crossvein r is present at the base of ORB1 in the hind wing. In recent years, works treating Nearctic and Palearctic Wesmaelius generally follow Aspöck et al. (1980) in recognizing two subgenera, Wesmaelius and Kimminsia. Klimaszewski and Kevan (1987) distinguished the two subgenera by the different shapes of forewing and male ectoproct, the 2ir crossvein in forewing present or not and the length of gonapophyses laterales in female. Oswald (1993) regarded the polarities of the characteristics, forewing and male ectoproct shapes, as unresolved, and not adequate to demonstrate the holophyly of either group; by outgroup comparison to other genera of Hemerobiidae, the states of other characteristics above in Wesmaelius were clearly derived and the plesiomorphic state in Kimminsia cannot justify its holophyly. Therefore, neither subgenus was recognized there. After examining the specimens from China we also propose there is no subgenus and they all belong to the genus Wesmaelius. Presently, about sixty-five species are recorded in the world (Tjeder 1961; Kuwayama 1962; Aspöck et al. 1980; Yang 1980; Makarkin 1986, 1996; Klimaszewski & Kevan 1987; Tian & Liu 2011), with seventeen species recorded from China, including one new species in this paper. Wesmaelius is diagnosed by the forewing characteristics as crossvein 2sc-r absent; anterior radial trace bearing Accepted by B. Price: 6 Apr. 2017; published: 1 Jun. 2017 19 3 or more Rs branches; proximal humeral trace strongly recurrent; crossvein 2r-m present and positioned adjacent or distal to crossvein 2m-cu. In hind wing, outer gradate series with 3 or more intraradial crossveins. Wesmaelius can be distinguished from the similar and largely sympatric genus Hemerobius by the presence of forewing crossvein 2r-m in its normal position adjacent or distal to crossvein 2m-cu, the presence of a pecten on the mesal process of the male ectoproct, and the male parabaculum never completely divided (Oswald 1993). In this paper, one new species W. dissectus sp. nov., is described from China. The new record species W. ravus (Withycombe, 1923) is reported with detailed description and the distribution in China. And the female of W. helanensis Tian & Liu, 2011 with new distributions is described for the first time, with keys for identification of adults of Chinese known species. All specimens are deposited in the Entomological Museum of China Agricultural University (CAU), Beijing. Material and methods The specimens were examined under an SZ760 stereomicroscope. Photographs of wings were taken with a Nikon EOS D3200 digital camera attached to the stereomicroscope. The terminalia were observed under a Leica DM2500 compound microscope. Descriptions of coloration are based on observations under the stereomicroscope with direct light on specimens preserved in 75% ethyl alcohol. The abdominal apex with genitalia was cut off and heated in 10% sodium hydroxide for about 10–20 min and then transferred to an excavated slide with glycerin. After examination it was transferred to fresh 75% ethyl alcohol and stored in a microvial. Wing venation terminology follows Oswald (1993) and Makarkin & Wedmann (2009). Terminology of genitalia follows Oswald (1993). Abbreviations: 7S, 8S, 9S, sternite; 7T, 8T, 9T, tergite; Ect, ectoproct; ehgs, extrahemigonarcus; gl, gonapophyses laterales; hgs, hemigonarcus; igps, intragonopons; igs, intragonarcus; ihgs, intrahemigonarcus; med, mediuncus; pmed, paramediuncus; sap, supraapophyseal plate; sg, subgenitale; tl, terminal lobe. Taxonomy Keys to species of Wesmaelius from China Male 1. The crossvein between ORB1 and ORB2 present in forewing; the crossvein r present after the origin of ORB1 in hind wing . W. asiaticus Yang - The crossvein between ORB1 and ORB2 absent in forewing; the crossvein r present before the origin of ORB1 in hind wing 2 2. Body yellowish-brown, no brown spots present in head and prothorax . W. navasi (Andréu) - Body yellowish-brown to dark brown, brown spots present in head or prothorax . 3 3. All the areas before antennae in head dark brown . 4 - Not all the areas before antennae in head dark brown . 8 4. 3 r-rs present in hind wing. W. trivenulatus (Yang) - 1–2 r-rs present in hind wing. 5 5. Three gradate series present in forewing. W. hani (Yang) - Four gradate series present in forewing . 6 6. The anteroventral edge of ectoproct not developed into protrusion . W. nervosus (Fabricius) - The anteroventral edge of ectoproct developed into protrusion . 7 7. Scape and pedicel darker than flagellum; obvious brown stripe absent in forewing; 1 r-rs present in hind wing . W. ravus (Withycombe) - Scape and pedicel not darker than flagellum; obvious brown stripe present in forewing; 2 r-rs present in hind wing . .W. baikalensis (Navás) 8. Three gradate series present in forewing. W. conspurcatus (McLachlan in Fedtschenko) - Four gradate series present in forewing . 9 9. A V-shaped brown spot present in pronotum; cubitus gradate series transparent and unconspicuous in forewing . .W. quettanus (Navás) - A V-shaped brown spot absent in pronotum; cubitus gradate series conspicuous in forewing . 10 10. Brown stripe present along the middle gradate series in forewing . 11 - Brown stripe absent along the middle gradate series in forewing. 12 11. Brown stripe present along the cubitus gradate series in forewing; posteroventral edge of 8th sternite declining and include the 20 · Zootaxa 4273 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press ZHAO ET AL. spiraculae. W. bihamitus (Yang) - Brown stripe absent along the cubitus gradate series in forewing; posteroventral edge of 8th sternite declining but not include the spiraculae. W. sufuensis Tjeder 12. Only frons in head dark brown; anteroventral edge of ectoproct long, intersected and ended with sharp hook . W. helanensis Tian & Liu - All the areas before antennae dark brown except the clypeus; anteroventral edge of ectoproct short, not intersected and ended flat . W. dissectus sp. nov. Female 1. The crossvein between ORB1 and ORB2 present in forewing; the crossvein r present after the first fork of ORB1 in hind wing . W. asiaticus Yang - The crossvein between ORB1 and ORB2 absent in forewing; the crossvein r present before the first fork of ORB1 in hind wing . 2 2. Body yellowish-brown, no brown spot present in head and prothorax . 3 - Body yellowish-brown to dark brown, brown spots present in head or prothorax. 4 3. Brown longitudinal stripes present along both sides of pronotum; veins various colored with transparent intervals in forewing . .W. tuofenganus (Yang) - Brown longitudinal stripes absent along both sides of pronotum; veins uniform colored in forewing . W. navasi (Andréu) 4. All the areas before antennae in head dark brown . 5 - Not all the areas before antennae in head dark brown . 10 5. 3 r-rs present in hind wing . W. trivenulatus (Yang) - 1–2 r-rs present in hind wing . 6 6. 1 r-rs present in hind wing . W. ravus (Withycombe) - 2 r-rs present in hind wing . ..