Kymachrysa intacta ( Navas , 1912) Navas, 1912

Tauber, Catherine A. & Garland, J. Allan, 2014, Kymachrysa, a new genus of Nearctic Green Lacewings (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae, Chrysopini), ZooKeys 437, pp. 87-108 : 102-104

Taxon classification Animalia Neuroptera Chrysopidae

Kymachrysa intacta ( Navas, 1912) comb. n.

Chrysopa intacta Navás, 1912: 199 [Original syntype reported to have been retained in Navás collection, probably destroyed; Neotype, CNC; designated by Garland (1985: 137)]. Junior subjective synonym of Ceraeochrysa placita by Garland (1985: 137).

Ceraeochrysa intacta ( Navás), genus incertae sedis. Recognized as a valid species, with uncertain generic assignment by Tauber and Flint (2010: 62).

Chrysopa forreri Navás, 1913-14 [1914]: 97 [Syntype, BMNH]. Junior subjective synonym of Ceraeochrysa intacta by Tauber and Flint (2010: 61).

Ceraeochrysa chiricahuae Freitas and Penny, in Freitas et al. 2009: 594 [Holotype, CAS]. Junior subjective synonym of Ceraeochrysa intacta by Tauber and Flint (2010: 61).

Remarks.

In addition to the citations listed above that refer to synonymies and nomenclatural changes, Garland and Kevan (2007: 59) provide a list of references containing information on Kymachrysa intacta under the name placita/placitus [as Chrysopa , Ceraeochrysa , Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) , Oviedus ]; other references include Tauber and de León (2001, as Ceraeochrysa placita ); Tauber (2010: 12, as Chrysopodes placitus ); Tauber et al. 2014: Suppl, Material, as Ceraeochrysa placita , incertae sedis).

Species specific characters.

This species was re-described by Tauber et al. (1998, 2000, as Ceraeochrysa placita ), Tauber (2003, as Chrysopodes placita ), and Freitas et al. (2009: 594, as Ceraeochrysa chiricahuae ). Adults are recognized by their slender, red markings on the head and thorax (Fig. 5) and narrowly cleft tarsal claws (Fig. 8D; also see Garland 1982, fig. 74k), as well as their distinctive male and female genitalia. The male features include: microtholi sometimes present (see below); ventral apodeme of S8+9 irregular, with several small curves and a mesal bend; gonocornua narrow, separated from each other basally (Fig. 7). In the female, the spermathecal invagination is large (~1/3rd the width of the spermatheca) and relatively deep (> ½ the depth of the spermatheca), and the basal section of the spermathecal duct is hairy (Fig. 3).

Specimens of Kymachrysa intacta from eastern and western North America appear very similar to each other, but we found some geographic variation of note. First, the male abdominal sternites are densely covered with microtholi on our specimens from California (Alameda, Kern, and Sierra Counties) (Fig. 8B). In contrast, microtholi are very sparse or absent on specimens from Utah (Wasatch County) and Colorado (Larimer County), and absent from specimens from New Hampshire (Belknap County) and New York (Tompkins and Schuyler Counties) (as in Fig. 8 for Kymachrysa placita ; also see Garland 1982). Second, larvae (second and third instars) from the west were reported to have somewhat denser abdominal setation than those of the east ( Tauber et al. 1998). And, finally, the length of the stalk that supports the egg is considerably longer in eastern than in western populations (eastern: 2.1-3.3 mm; western: 1.4-2.3 mm) ( Tauber et al. 1998). Given the potential role of microtholi in courtship, we suspect that the above variation may indicate at least some reproductive isolation between eastern and western populations.

The larvae of Kymachrysa intacta have been described ( Tauber et al. 1998, 2000, Tauber 2003); for images, see Fig. 11 here. Below are some modifications and corrections to the earlier descriptions:

(a) Semaphorant A (L1): Thorax as figured by Tauber et al. (1998, Fig. 8), with following differences: Mesothorax with Sc1, Sc2 present anteriorly on folds as in Chrysopodes (see Tauber 2003, fig. 10); Sc3 present, posteromesal to lateral tubercles, with one medium-length and sometimes one small associated setae; S1 small or absent; S2 medium-length, mesal to Sc3, smooth to finely sabulose. Metathorax with Sc3 present, mesal to lateral tubercle, with one or two small associated setae (S1Sc3, S2Sc3); several very small setae anterior to Sc3, probably associated with a very pale Sc2.

(b) Semaphorant B (L3, L2): Prothorax with S1 and S1Sc1 smooth to very finely sabulose, not thorny. Mesothorax with Sc2 present mesal to lateral tubercles, with two small associated setae (S1Sc2, S2Sc2); S1 present, small; S2 small or absent; S3 of medium-length, slightly granular; S4 small, smooth; but S1Sc3 small, S2Sc3 slightly longer. Metathorax with posterior row of setae (R1) arising from large chalazae.

Geographic distribution.

This species occurs broadly throughout North America. We have seen specimens or reliable records from: Canada (ON, QC; see Garland 1984); United States (AZ, CA, CO, MN, MO, NC, NH, NM, NV, NY, OR, TN, TX, UT, WS, WV, WY; see Penny et al. 1997); and Mexico (Dgo., D.F., Mich.; see Valencia Luna et al. 2006).

Kymachrysa placita and Kymachrysa intacta were collected sympatrically in Rustler Park, Cochise Co., AZ, 6-Aug-1991, by R. & J. Robertson (CAS).