Neuroptera of the Amazon Basin. Part 1. Sisyridae Norman O. Penny (*) Abstract fine network of silken strands will form an outer structure within which the cocoon is Known species of the Neuropteran family Sisyridae spun. In warm temperate zones, two to three of the Amazon Basin are described, figured, and distri­ butions are given for this region. Two new species of generatlons occur per year, but in the Amazon Slsyra and one of Climacia are described, bringing the Basin emergence is almosl continuous, with total number of specíes known from Amazonia to eight. the peak coming in July and August in the Keys are presented for Amazonian species of Sisyra and central Amazon. Adults may feed on pollen Cllmacla. graíns and nectar (Brown, 1952) and are attracted to lights, often in large numbers. I NT.RODUCTION SYSTEMATICS The Neuropteran family Sisyridae is among the smallest in the order, with only 45 species In the most recent revision of the Sisyridae, known trom tive extant genera. The family is Parfin and Gurney ( 1956) recognized one widely distributed throughout most tropical and species of Climacia and one species of Sisyra warm temperate areas of the world. Within as existing in the Amazon Basin . During the the Amazon Basin exist two genera of Sisyridae: present study, one additional known species Climacia with three species (only one ot which of Climacia and two of Sisyra were found to was previously known from Amazonia), and occur within the Basin . Finally, two formerly Sisyra with tive species, two of which are new unknown species of Sisyra and one new species and herein described. of Climacia were also collected. The family is unique among the Planipennia The following morphological descriptions in having aquatic larvae which are parasitic on use the terminology for male genitalia of Parfin fresh-water sponges of the genera Meyenia and and Gurney ( 1956) . Spongilla. Lestage ( 1921) has stated that larvae are also parasites of filamentous algae and bryozoans. KEY TO AMAZONIAN GENERA OF SISYRIDAE 1A. A series of outer grada te crossveins BIOLOGY present in fore and hind wings ...... Climacia Maclachlan Small, p::~le yellow eggs are laid in small 1B. No series of outer gradate crossveins crevic.es directly above water. They are covered present in either wing .............. by severa! strands of whitish silk. Eggs hatch . Sisyra Burmeister within 8 days to two weeks, whereupon the large-headed, tirst instar larva drops into the water and seeks out a sponge host. Sisyridae Genus Climacia Maclachlan, 1869 go through three larva I instars. The third instar, when ready to pupate, will leave the Cllrnacia Maclachlan. 1869, Ent. Monthly Mag., 6: 21- water and wander up to 16 meters from the water and finally spin a silken cocoon on Type Species: Micromus areo/aris Hagen, by almost any roughened surface. Oftentimes, a original designation of Maclachlan. (*) - Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazôma, Manaus. ACTA AMAZONICA 11(1) : 157-169. 1981 - 157 2A. Forewing with basal radiomedial streak not accompanied by extensive spotting along longitudinal veins ............. C. bimaculata Bks. 2B. Forewing with basal radiomedial streaks accompanied by extensive spotting along longitudinal veins .. .. C. negrense n.sp. Climacia bimaculata Banks, 1913 Climacia bimaculata Banks, 1913, Proc. Ent. Soe. Wash., Figure 1 - Lateral view of Sisyra amazonica, n. sp. 15: 138. (reprlnted from Penny and Arias , 1981). Holotype female (in glycerin) in Museum ot Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cam­ Head : Rounded with somewhat elongated bridge, Massachusetts, U. S .A. mouthparts. Compound eyes entire, without Present description based on 3 males, 5 pilosity. Ocelli absent. Maxillary palpi three­ females, 1 ? on slides and 1 male, 1 female segmented. Last segment elongate and apically pirmed. pointed. Labial palpi three-segmented. An­ Head: Yellow with somewhat elongate mouth­ tennae filiform, of 46 to 63 segments. parts. Maxillary palps bright yeilow, three­ Thorax : Pronotum quadrate with numerous segmented, elongate. Last palpal segment long setae. Mesa- and meta- nota convex, apically acute. Labial palpi also three-seg­ pilose. Meso- and metapleura elongate, with mented, yellow, and terminal paipal segment tew setae. Legs elongate, consisting of acutely pointed. Antennae 46 to 48 segmented, globular coxa, quadrangular trochanter, e­ with basal and apical whorls of dark setae on longate femur and tibia. Two tibial spurs each segment. First eight antennal segments present. Five tarsal segments, first as long yellow, next 15 segments dark fuscous, gradu­ as proximal three. Two tarsal claws present. ally returning to a pale yellow apically . Com­ Wings: Forewings with a basic pale coloration. pound syes large, black. Ocelli absent. A series of outer gradate crossveins present. Thorax: Yellow, numerous setae stramineous. Two or three R-Rs crossveins present. Terminal Legs yellowish, except for tip of last tarsal segment of most longitudinal veins branched. segment dark fuscous. Abdomen: Ten v e r y lightly sclerotized Wings: In forewing (Fig. 2) costal field with segments. Male genitalia consisting of a _14 to 15 crossveins before pterostigmal area, series of dentitions along caudal margin ot where crossveins become very numerous. R· tenth sternum, setiferous ninth sternum, and uniting with Se beneath pterostigmal area. membranous aedeagus. Female genital ia con­ Three crossveins between R, and Rs; one in sisting of elongate, sclerotized ninth tergum radiomedial band, one at end of pterostigmal and sternum, and lightly sclerotized tent h spot, and and one midway between pterostig­ tergum. mal crossvein and wing margin. Three other outer grad;tte crossveins approximately below KEY TO AMAZONIAN SPECIES OF CLIMACIA pteorstigmal spot. A series of four crossveins midway between radiomedial stripe and pte­ 1A. A conspicuous radiomedial streak i n rostigmal spot forming an inner gradate series. forewing .. ........... : . 2 Three addi~ ion al crossveins in field of radi­ 1B. No conspicuous radiomedial streak in omedial streak forming basal gradate series. forewing ......... .. C. townesi P.&G. Forewing bright yellow, except for radiomedial 158- Penny streak, pterostigmal spot, and most crossveins Ecology: The specimen collected in January fuscous . Occasional longitudinal streaking in was taken from a small black-water stream cells beyond outer gradate series of crossveins. running through an extensiva white sand area. The Manaus specimen was taken from an a­ Hindwing pale yellow with more scleroti­ partment in the city center near the Igarapé zation in area of pterostigma, extending to wing de São Raimundo, a heavily polluted inlet of apex . Diffuse fuscous pterostigmal spot. Outer the Rio Negro. The other Amazonas specimens gradate series of three crossveins. lnner were collected from a light trap placed in the gradate series of four crossveins. Anal area top of a large tree about 1/ 2 km from the Rio w1th long, curved setae . Urubu where it crosses AM 01 O. lt would Abdomen of Ma/e: First nine abdominal appear that this species can be taken near both segments very lightly sclerotized. Tenth small streams and large rivers. sterr.um with caudal ring of long setae with dentiferous bases . This structure projects C/imacia bimaculata appears to be most ventro-caudally as a concave lobe with many closely related to the other two Amazonian strong setae (Fig. 1O) . Ninth sternum a raised species, C. negrense and C. townesi, and the ridge evenly curving to a mediai, ventral Paragu élyian species. C. carpenteri, although projection . the distinct two marks on the wings easily distmguishes C. bimàculata. Body Length: Mate, 3.0 - 3.5 mm; female, 4 .0 - 4 .2 mm . C I i macia negrense n. sp. Forewing Length: Mate, 3. 6- 4. O mm; female, 3 .6-4. 1 mm . Holotype mate, on a slide, in the Systematic Variation: One mate and one female lack the Entomology Collections of INPA, Manaus . dark longitudinal streaks near the wing apex, Description based on holotype mate. and this same mate has antennae which are uniformly dark. This may be a brood difference, Head: Yellow with fuscous markings on occiput and frons . Antennae consisting of 46 segments as this mate was the only one caught during the early part of the year. (only first 28 remaining on right antenna); first eight segments stramineous, becoming Geographica/ Distribution: Holotype female of dark fuscous on proximal 12 segments, and this species was collected at Bartica, apical segments gradually returning to stra­ Guyana . Parfin & Gurney ( 1956) record an mineous. Maxillary and labial palpi stra­ additional female from Zanderiu I, Boven Para mineous. D!strict, Surinam. Additional material in the Systematic Entomology Collections of INPA, Thorax: Notai region setiferous, stramineous Manaus include BRAZIL: Amazonas, km 244- with fuscate markings . Pleural regions fuscous. AM 010, 19-1-1977, N . D. Penny, 1 mal e; Ama­ Coxa and trochanter fuscous, remainder of leg zonéls , Manaus, 7-IX-1978, N.D. Penny, I female; stramineous . Pilosity ot legs stramineous. Amazonas. km 246 - AM 010, 12-16-VII-1979, Wings: Forewing (Fig. 3) stramineous with Jorge R. Arias, 3 males, 4 females, 1 ? . Ali extensiva tuscous markings. Radiomedial were collected with light traps. streak diagonal from Se to mediai vein. Temporal Distribution: The female type was Pterostigmal spot large, triangular, reaching to collected in December and the Surinam speci­ R2 + 3. Ali crossveins fuscous and fuscous men in April. One Amazonas specimen was spotting along longitudinal veins . CuP and anal collected in January, another in September, veins stramineous, bordered by linear fuscous and a series of eight specimens in July. lt streaks. Further fuscous streaking in cells appears that this species may be present at ali of forewi ng apex. H i ndwi ng with reduced times of the year. pigmentation and number of crossveins . Neuropt.era ... - 159 Abdomen of Ma/e: Abdominal segments very dsrk setae on each segment. First 27 segments lightly sclerotized. Tenth sternum bearing fuscous, gradually shading to pale yellow caudal ring of long setae with dentate bases.