Neuroptera

Serediuk, H. V., 2018, Morphometry Of Fore Wing Venation For Identification Of Net-Winged Insects Of The Ukrainian Carpathians, With A Focus On Chrysopa (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), Vestnik Zoologii 52 (2), pp. 101-114 : 106-107

Key to families of Neuroptera occurring in Ukraine (modified from Aspök et al., 1980)

1. Length of fore wing is more than 3 cm. ........................................................................................................... 2

— Length of fore wing less than 2 cm ....................................................................................................................3

2. Width of cubital sector more than 0.2 (c. 0.25) of fore wing width. Veins Sc and R fused into smooth curve towards the wing tip; distal cell between R and Rs is elongated, being 4–7 times as long as wide ( FIg. 3a ). Antenna gradually thickening towards the tip or clavate. ................................... Myrmeleontidae

— Width of cubital sector less than 0.15 (usually 0.1) of fore wing width. The vein Sc+R right after fusing steeply bent backwards; distal cell ( FIg. 3b ) between R and Rs short, quadrangular or nearly square, being 1.5 times as long as wide. Antenna clavate, long. ........................................................................ Ascalaphidae

3. Radial sector always includes three cells; R vein forming Rt (radial triangular) in front of the FIrst Rs ( FIg. 3f ). Fore leg raptorial. .............................................................................................................. Mantispidae

— Radial sector always includes more than three cells; R vein not forming Rt (radial triangular). Fore leg walking...................................................................................................................................................................3

4. Fore wing longer than 1.2 cm .............................................................................................................................6

— Fore wing shorter than 1 cm .............................................................................................................................11

5. Wing membrane transparent with many dark spots, main veins brownish. Veins Sc and R fused gradually towards wing tip ( FIg. 3c ). Head with three simple ocelli.............................................................. Osmylidae

— Wing membrane transparent without spots, main veins greenish (yellowish in dry specimens). Veins Sc and R fused at the wing tip, or joined by cross veins, if not fused ( FIg. 3d ). Head without simple ocelli. ........................... ............................................................................................................................................................. Chrysopidae

6. Fore wing longer than 0.6 cm. .......................................................................................................................... 7

— Fore wing shorter than 0.5 cm .........................................................................................................................13

7. Wing membrane transparent, often with dark spots or characteristic drawings. Fore wing with two or more branches Rs; Sc and R terminate separately. Radial sector with many cross veins. Numerous trz are clearly visible on wing edges ( FIg. 3h ). ........................................................................................ Hemerobiidae

— Wing membrane transparent, uniformly brownish colored, lacking spots and pattern. Fore wing with only one branch Rs; Sc and R are fused near wing tip, vein Sc is steeply curved before fusion with R ( FIg. 3e ). Radial sector includes few cross veins. Wing edges lacking trz. ..................................... Sisyridae

6. Body and wings covered with white wax-like coating. Wings lack setae and spots. Venation simple: few cross veins, not more than 5; costal sector lacking cross veins; longitudinal veins without branching ( FIg. 3g ). Female ovipositor lacking. ...................................................................................... Coniopterygidae

— White wax-like coating lacking. Wings covered with long dense setae, usually with characteristic drawings, including numerous brown spots and stripes. Venation is dense and complex: many cross veins. Female has a long saber-like ovipositor. ................................................................................. Dilaridae

Figures

Fig. 3. Fore wing venation: 3a — Myrmeleontidae (Distoleon Banks, 1810); 3b — Ascalaphidae (Libelloides Schaffer, 1763); 3c — Osmylidae (Osmylus Latreille, 1802); 3d — Chrysopidae (Chrysopa Leach, 1815); 3e — Sisyridae (Sisyra Burmeister, 1839); 3f — Mantispidae (Mantispа Illiger in Kugelann, 1798); 3g — Coniopterigidae (Conwentzia Enderlein 1905); 3h — Hemerobiidae (Hemerobius Linnaeus, 1758); R — radius, Rs — radial sector, Rt — radial triangular, dc — distal cell between R and Rs, Sc — subcostal vein; trz — tiny inserted veins. arranged between the terminal branches of longitudinal veins.