Ankylopteryx (Sencera) anomala Brauer

Breitkreuz, Laura C. V., Winterton, Shaun L. & Engel, Michael S., 2015, Revision of the green lacewing subgenus Ankylopteryx (Sencera) (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), ZooKeys 543, pp. 111-127 : 113-120

Taxon classification Animalia Neuroptera Chrysopidae

Ankylopteryx (Sencera) anomala Brauer Figs 1, 2, 3-6, 7-10, 11-13, 14

Ankylopteryx anomala Brauer 1864: 901. Lectotype ♂, NHMW (visum).

Sencera scioneura Navás 1924 [1925]: 27. Holotype ♂, ZMB (visum). Syn. n.

Sencera feae Navás 1929: 371. Holotype ♂, MCSN (visum). Syn. n.

Sencera feai Navás 1930: 23 [lapsus calami pro Sencera feae Navás 1929].

Sencera exquisita Nakahara 1955: 143. Holotype ♂, NMNS (visum). Syn. n.

Ankylopteryx (Sencera) anomala Brauer: Brooks and Barnard 1990: 157 [combination implied].

Ankylopteryx (Sencera) scioneura ( Navás): Brooks and Barnard 1990: 157 [combination implied].

Ankylopteryx (Sencera) feae ( Navás): Brooks and Barnard 1990: 157 [combination implied].

Ankylopteryx (Sencera) exquisita (Nakahara): Brooks and Barnard 1990: 157 [combination implied]; Yang et al. 2005: 56.

Ankylopteryx exquisita (Nakahara): Tsukaguchi 1995: 131.

Diagnosis.

As for the subgenus (vide supra).

Description.

♂. Overall color in live specimens light green with mostly greyish brown and some whitish markings (Fig. 3); in dried specimens green areas appears pale yellow or light brown.

Head: vertex smooth, raised and flat; laterally pale green, medially light green, with brown marking medially above toruli [varying in size and intensity of coloration from faint to dark, heart-shaped marking]. Frons smooth and flat; light green to whitish [in some specimens slightly darker than vertex] with small brown marking medially below toruli [varying in size and intensity of coloration from not visible to clearly visible marking (size about distance between toruli)]. Malar space broad; with brown marking extending from mandibular base to lower compound eye margin and epistomal sulcus. Clypeus smooth, slightly raised, indented medially at apical margin; medially light green to whitish, laterally and apically with brown marking. Labrum smooth, flat, apical margin simple without indentation, with brown markings basolaterally and apically. Mandible smooth, apex pointed; dark brown. Maxillary palp light green, fifth palpomere brown. Labial palp light green, third palpomere brown. Gena ventrally flat; light green [in few specimens with brown marking medially]. Scape short and broad (ca. 1.25 times as long as wide); light green to whitish with brown marking laterally [varying in size and intensity of coloration from absent to dark brown longitudinal band]. Pedicel short (ca. 1.1 times as long as wide); light green to whitish. Flagellomeres ca. 2.4 times as long as wide; light green to whitish; setae in 4 rows, long (varying within single flagellomere from as long as flagellum width to twice as long), brown.

Thorax: pronotum ca. 0.9 times as long as wide; light green with brown longitudinal marking anterolaterally [varying in size from spot anteriorly to stretching over 2/3 of pronotum and intensity of coloration from almost not visible to dark brown]; setae whitish, long. Meso- and metathorax light green laterally and ventrally, dorsally mostly brown-greyish with some light green and pale green [intensity of brown greyish markings varying]; setae whitish, microsetae dense, long setae sparse. Prescutum with more light green than brown-greyish in some specimens; setae whitish, microsetae dense, long setae sparse. Metascutum with whitish marking; setae whitish, microsetae dense, long setae sparse medioanteriorly. Postmetascutellum light green with small brown-greyish marking anteriorly; setae whitish, microsetae dense, long setae sparse.

Legs: light green, fifth tarsomere and pretarsal claws dark brown; most specimens with brown marking mediodistally on pro- and mesotibia [varying in size and intensity of coloration of marking from absent on both legs to well-defined dark brown spots on both legs, marking on mesotibia mostly smaller than on protibia]; setae long, mostly whitish, some brown. Pretarsal claws dilated basally.

Forewing (Figs 2-10): mean length 10.7 mm; wing ca. 2.6 times as long as wide, slightly pointed apically. Veins mostly pale green [varying from almost all pale green to several veins dark at joints to various veins completely dark]; setae whitish [some setae partially brown, corresponding with wing markings]. Markings on membrane vary from almost absent (with small, faint, light-brown markings) to several dark-brown markings; costal area broad (ca. 0.3 times as wide as total wing width, varying between 0.27-0.33 mm); pterostigma varying from faint light brown (almost absent) to dark brown, extending over 4 crossveins (2sc-r - 5sc-r); 1c-sc (basal costal crossvein) brown at wing margin; 1sc-r (bsx) brown; 1rs-m brown in some specimens; 1r-rs brown in some specimens. Membrane sometimes with brown marking surrounding r-rs (radial crossveins) crossveins (normally 7r-rs - 10r-rs), with brown marking in some specimens at Rs on a few r-rs. Venation as in most Ankylopterygini except im cell absent; Psm continuous with outer gradates; number of inner gradates varying from 5-7 (number varies also in a single individual, with left and right wings bearing different numbers); veins mostly brown, with brown marking on surrounding membrane of some veins in several specimens; basal inner gradate meeting Psm; most specimens with brown marking surrounding base of inner gradates; number of outer gradates varying from 6-8 (varying also between wings in same individual); faint brown coloration on surrounding membrane of outer gradates in a few specimens; Cu2 and 1A with brown marking at wing margin in some specimens; dcc closed, marked brown [varying in coloration from light to dark brown and in size of marking from not filling the entire cell to extending into the surrounding cells]; 5 psm-psc (crossveins between Psm and Psc) apical of dcc, some crossveins with light brown markings surrounding vein in several specimens; light brown markings surrounding some terminal branches of Psc; junction of wing margin and veins brown in most specimens, especially in apical half of wing.

Hind wing: narrow (ca. 3.5 times as long as wide), apically more strongly pointed than forewing. Veins mostly pale green [varying from almost all pale green to some veins brown at joints, only few veins completely brown]; setae pale [some setae partially brown, corresponding with wing markings]. Costal area narrow (ca. 0.11 times as wide as total wing width). Several r-rs (Rx) with brown markings surrounding vein (normally 6r-rs - 9r-rs) in most specimens, or only brown veins without surrounding marking; number of inner gradates varying from 3-5 (varies also between wings in same specimen); veins mostly brown; basal inner gradate meeting Psm; most specimens with brown marking surrounding base of inner gradates; number of outer gradates varying from 4-7 (also varies at times between wings in same specimen); veins mostly brown. Area between Cu2 and basal-most terminal branch Psc with brown marking [varying in size and intensity of coloration]. Light brown markings surrounding some terminal Psm branches in some specimens; some psm-psc with small light brown markings surrounding vein in some specimens, two apicalmost psm-psc brown in most specimens; junction of wing margin and veins brown in most specimens, especially in apical half of wing.

Abdomen: Terga light green with brown-greyish markings dorsally on terga IV–IX, markings broader on anterior terga. Sterna light green; sterna VIII+IX fused. Setae whitish, microsetae dense, long setae more sparse.

Genitalia (Figs 11, 12): Only gonarcus, entoprocessus, and pseudopenis present. Gonarcus broadened at several locations, especially at apex of lateral arms [variation in general width of gonarcus between specimens; medial arch of gonarcus varying from smooth and only slightly broadened to having broader area forming small horn-like structure]. Entoprocessus loosely attached at narrow connection point to gonarcus; broadened medially, arms meeting medially, forming arch from gonarcus over pseudopenis. Pseudopenis long, subapically broadened and pointed apically [pseudopenis does not stain well in some specimens]. Gonosaccus with few gonosetae.

♀. Characters as in male except terminalia: Terminalia (Fig. 13) Sterna VII straight, apically slightly pointed ventrally, with setae at apex. Subgenitale and spermatheca with spermaduct present; subgenitale bilobed apically; spermatheca round (as wide as long); spermaduct coiled, ca. 2 times as long as spermatheca.

Measurements.

Based on average from 5 specimens: Head 0.74 times as long as wide; upper distance between compound eyes 1.22 times lower distance between compound eyes; clypeus 0.51 times as long as wide; labrum 0.52 times as long as wide; malar space 1.09 times as long as mandibular base is broad; scape 1.09 times as long as wide; pedicel 1.19 times as long as wide; flagellomeres 3.7 times as long as wide (meas ured medially on flagellum); thorax 1.43 times as long as wide (measured in dorsal view); pronotum 0.95 times as long as wide (measured in dorsal view); forewing 2.62 times as long as wide; forewing costal width 0.3 times width of forewing; hindwing 3.57 times as long as wide; terga 1.51 times as long as wide (average of third tergum, difficult to measure when dry).

Lectotype (here designated). ♂, [India], M, Novara [Reise], 1857-59, Milu, Nicob. (Fig. 3) [this is the first specimen referred to by Brauer (1864) in "Ins. Nicobaricae Milu et Sambelong", where Milu refers to today’s Pulomilo or sometimes as Pulo Milu, a small island off the north coast of Little Nicobar], deposited in NHMW. We have selected this syntype specimen to serve as the lectotype given the fact that it preserves the most characters (the paralectotype is today in exceedingly poor condition), and better ensures the correct application of the epithet. It should be noted that at some point holotype and paratype labels were placed on Brauer’s series, likely by a curator of the collection as these are newer labels, but these have no standing as Brauer himself never selected an individual to act as the name-bearing type and no subsequent designations of lectotype have ever been published. Thus, those labels have no nomenclatural standing and this is fortunate as the ‘paratypus’ label was placed on the most complete specimen (here selected as the lectotype), and the ‘holotypus’ label on the least well preserved specimen (thus serving the least value to taxonomic stability had they any validity).

Paralectotype.

♂, [India], O, Novara Reise, 1857-59, Sambelong, Nicob. [this is the second specimen referred to by Brauer (1864), "Ins. Nicobaricae Milu et Sambelong", with Sambelong today being the island of Grand Nicobar], deposited in NHMW.

Additional material examined.

In addition to the syntype series, a total of 47 specimens available for study (21 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, 15 sex undetermined), institutional repository and original identification of material indicated in square brackets: AUSTRALIA: 1♂, label imprecise: “Australia?”, date unknown; collector unknown [BMNH: originally as Sencera scioneura ]. BRUNEI: 3♂♂, 1 sex indet., June 16th 1984, collector A. Saman, Triencide trap [BMNH: originally as Sencera anomala ]. CHINA: 1 sex indet., Hainan, You Boi, 1911, collector unknown [BMNH: originally as Sencera exquisita ]. INDIA: 1 sex indet., Pirmed, 3400 ft., May 4 th– 6th 1937, collector Travencore [BMNH: indet. #1]. INDONESIA: 1♀, Sulawesi, Utaria, October 1985, collector unknown, Project Wallace of the R. Ent. Soc. Lond. [BMNH: originally as Sencera anomala ]. MALAYSIA: 1♂, 2 sex indet., Bettotan near Sandakan, individual dates of July 26th, July 30th, and August 3rd 1927, collectors C.B.K & H.M.P [BMNH: originally as Sencera anomala ]; 2♂♂, 1 sex indet., Cameron Highlands, May 22nd 1983, Methyl Eugenol lure trap, collector R.A.I. Drew [CSCA: indet]; 1♂, 3 sex indet., Kedah, nr. Jitra, individual dates of April 4th, 10th, and 11th 1928, collector H.M. Pendlebury [BMNH: indet. #2]; 6♂♂, Selangor, Gomback, Ulu Gomback Research Station, March 16 th– 17th 2006, 03°19'29"N 101°45'11"E, Steiner trap, Methyl Eugenol, collector T. Dikow [5♂♂ CSCA: indet; 1♂ CAS: indet.]; 1♀, Selangor, Ulu Langat, November 2nd 1981, collector K.R. Tuck [BMNH: indet. #2]. MYANMAR: 2♂♂, 1♀, Tenasserim, 1938, collector McLachlan [BMNH: indet. #1]; 1♂, Bhamò, Birmania, vii.1886 [MCSN: holotype of Sencera feae ]. NEPAL: 1♂, 1 sex indet., Chitwan, Sauraha, December 26th 1981 - January 9th 1982, collector L. Jessop [BMNH: originally as Sencera feae ]. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 1♀, Finschhafen, April 9th 1944, collector E.S. Ross [CAS: indet]; 1♂, Neu-Britannien, Ralum, F. Dahl S., zum Licht sufl., auz Juli 96., 13.12.96 [ZMB: holotype of Sencera scioneura ]. SRI LANKA [Ceylon]: 1♀, Galle, February 10th 1907, collectors Bainbrigge & Fletcher [BMNH: originally as Sencera feae ]; 1 sex indet., Kottawa, April 24th 1892, collector unknown [BMNH: indet. #1]; 1♀, Nawalapitiya, 1938, collector McLachlan [BMNH: indet. #1]; 1♀, detailed locality unknown, 1938, collector McLachlan [BMNH: indet. #1]. VANUATU [New Hebrides]: 1♀, Erromanga, July 1930, collector L.E. Cheesman [BMNH: originally as Sencera scioneura ]; 2♀♀, Malekula, Ounua, March-April 1929 and May 1930, collector L.E. Cheesman [BMNH: originally as Sencera scioneura ]. TAIWAN [Central Formosa]: 2 sex indet., Suishako, 1911, collector unknown [BMNH: originally as Sencera exquisita ]; 1♂, Hori Formosa, 5.v.1939, Tomio Kaneko [NMNS: holotype of Sencera exquisita ]. THAILAND: 1♀, Chiang Mai Province, Samoeng Tai, 600m, July 14th 2013, 18.8598°N 98.6507°E, collector S. Winterton [CSCA: indet]; 1♂, 3 sex indet., Trang Province, Khao Chong, October 20 th– 27th and December 1 st– 8th 2008, 7 32' N 99 47' E, collectors P. Kongnoo & T. Tongrod [CSCA: indet].

Comment.

Although previous authors have alluded to other, putative species in Sencera (e.g., New 2003), we cannot confirm any such diversity and all of those forms result from splitting species based on minor variations in wing pattern and coloration. We have found that such patterns are merely variants of a single widespread species. The patterns only superficially appear to be geographically distinct when looking at very small sample sizes from isolated geographic localities (vide infra).