Neuroptera of the Amazon Basin . Part 1 . Sisyridae

Known species of the Neuropteran family Sisyridae o f the Amazon Basin are described, figured, and distributions are given for this region. Two new species of Sisyra and one of Clirnacia are described, bringing the total number of species known from Amazonia to eight. Keys are presented for Amazonian species of Sisyra and Climacia. fine network of silken strands will form an outer structure within which the cocoon is spun. In warm temperate zones, two to three generations occur per year, but in the Amazon Basin emergence is almost continuous, with the peak coming in July and August in the central Amazon. Adults may feed on pollen grains and nectar (Brown, 1952) and are attracted to fights, often in large numbers. The Neuropteran family Sisyridae is among the smitllest in the order, with only 45 species known from five extant genera. The family is widely distributed throughout most tropical and warm temperate areas of the world. Within the Amazon Basin exist two genera of Sisyridae: Climacia with chree species (only one of which was previously known from Amazonia), and Sisyra with five species, two of which are new and herein described. The family is unique among the Planipennia in having aquatic larvae which are parasitic on fresh-water sponges of the genera Meyenia and Spongilla. Lestage (1 921) has stated that larvae are also parasites of filamentous algae and bryozoans . Small, p%le yellow eggs are laid in small crevices directly above water. They are covered by several strands of whitish silk. Eggs hatch within 8 days to two weeks, whereupon the large-headed, first instar larva drops into the water and seeks out a sponge host. Sisyridae ga through three larval instars. The third instar, when ready to pupate, will leave the water and wander up to 16 meters from the water and finally spin a silken cocoon on almost any roughened surface. Oftentimes, a In the most recent revision of the Sisyridae, Parfin and Gurney (.I9561 recognized one species of Climacia and one species of Sisyra as existing in the Amazon Basin. During the present study, one additional known species of Climacia and two of Sisyra were found to occur 'within the Basin. Finally, two formerly unknown species of Sisyra and one new species of Climacia were also collected. The following morphological descriptions use the terminology for male genitalia of Patfin and Gurney (1956) . KEY TO AMAZONIAN GENERA OF SISYRIDAE 1A. A series of outer gradate crossveins present in fore and hind wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Climacia MacLachlan 1B. No series of outer gradate crossveins present in either wing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sisyra Burmeister Genus CIimacia MacLachlan, 1869 Climacia MacLachlan. 1869, Ent. Monthly Mag., 6 : 21. Type Species: Micromus areolaris Hagen, by original designation of MacLachlan. (') lnstituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amaz6n1a, Manaus. ACTA AMAZONICA 11(1) : 157-169. 1981 Figure 1 Lateral view of Sisyra amazonica, n. s p . [reprinted from Penny and Arias, 1981). Head : Rounded with somewhat elongated mouthparts. Compound eyes entire, without pilosity. Ocelli absent. Maxillary palpi threesegmented. Last segment elongate and apically pointed. Labial palpi three-segmented . Antennae filiform, of 46 to 63 segments. Thorax : Pronotum quadrate with numerous long setae. Mesoand metanota convex, piiose. Mesoand metapleura elongate, with few setae. Legs elongate, consisting of globular coxa, quadrangular trochanter, elongate femur and tibia. Two tibia1 spurs present. Five tarsal segments, first as long as proximal three. Two tarsal claws present. Wings: Forewings with a basic pale coloration. A serics of outer gradate crossveins present. Two ar three R-Rs crossveins present. Terminal segment of most longitudinal veins branched. Abdomen : Ten v e r y lightly sclerotized segments. Male genitalia consisting of a serics of dentitions along caudal margin of tenth sternum, setiferous ninth sternum, and membranous aedeagus . Female genitalia consisting of elongate, sclerotized ninth tergum and sternum, and lightly sclerotized tenth tergum. KEY TO AMAZONIAN SPECIES OF CLIMACIA 1A. A conspicuous radiomedial streak in forewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1B. No conspicuous radiomedial streak in forewing . . . . . . . . . . . . C. townesi P.&G. 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, 191 3 Climacia bimaculata Banks, 1913, Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., 15 : 138. Holotype female (in glycerin) in Museum of Compsrative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U .S .A. Present description based on 3 males, 5 females, I ? on slides and 1 male, 1 female pinned. Head: Yellow with somewhat elongate mouthparts. Maxillary palps bright yeilow, three. segmented, elongate. Last palpal segment aprcally acute. Labial palpi also three-segrnented, yellow, and terminal paipal segment acutely pointed. Antennae 46 to 48 segmented, with basal and apical whorls of dark setae on each segment. First eight antenna1 segments yellow, next 15 segments dark fuscous, gradually returning to a pale yellow apicaily. Compound cyes large, black. Ocelli absent. Thorax: Yellow, numerous setae stramineous. Legs yellowish, except for t ip of last tarsal segment dark fuscous. Wings: In forewing (Fig. 2) costal field with 14 to 15 crossveins before pterostigmal area, where crossveins become very numerous. R1 uniting with Sc beneath pterostigmal area. Three crossveins between RI and Rs; one in radiomedial band, one at end of pterostigmal spot, and and one midway between pterostigma1 crossvein and wing margin. Three other outer gradate crossveins approximately below pteorstigmal spot. A series of four crossveins midway between radiomedial stripe and pterastigmal spot forming an inner gradate series. Three additional crossveins in field of radiomedial streak forming basal gradate series. Forewing bright yellow, except for radiomedial streak, pterostigmal spot, and most crossveins fuscous. Occasional longitudinal streaking in cells beyond outer gradate series af crossveins. Hindwing pale yellow with more sclerotization in area of pterostigma, extending to wing apex. Diffuse fuscous ptei-ostigmal spot. Outer gradate series of three crossveins. Inner gradate series of four crossveins. Anal area w ~ t h long, curved setae. Abdomen of Male : First nine abdominal segments very lightly sclerotized. Tenth sternum with caudal ring of long setae with dentiferous bases. This structure projects ventro-caudally as a concave lobe with many strong setae (Fig. 10) . Ninth sternum a raised ridge evenly curving to a medial, ventral projection. Body Length: Male, 3.0 3.5 mm; female, 4.0 4.2 mm. Forewing Length: Male, 3 . 6 4.0 mm; female, 3 .6 4.1 mm. Variation: One male and one female lack the dark longitudinal streaks near the wing apex, and this same male has antennae which are uiiiformly dark. This may be a brood difference, as this male was the only one caught during the early part of the year. Geographical Distribution: Holotype female of this species was collected at Bartica, Guyana. Parfin & Gurney (1956) record an additional female from Zanderiu I, Boven Para District, Surinam. Additional material in the Systematic Entomology Collections of INPA, Manaus include BRAZIL: Amazonas, km 244 AM 010, 19-1-1977, N.D. Penny, 1 male; Amazonas, Manaus, 7-IX-1978, N.D. Penny, I female; Amazonas, km 246 -AM 01 0, 12-1 6-Vll-1979, Jarge R. Arias, 3 males, 4 females, 1 ?. Al l were collected with light traps. Temporal Distribution: The female type was collected in December and the Surinam specimen in April. One Amazonas specimen was collected in January, another in September, and a series of eight specimens in July. It appears that this species may be present at all times of the year. Ecology: The specimen collected in January was taken from a small black-water stream running through an extensive white sand area. The Msnaus specimen was taken from an apartment in the city center near the lgarape de SBo Raimundo, a heavily polluted inlet of the Rio Negro. The other Amazonas specimens were collected from a light trap placed in the top of a large tree about 1/2 km from the Rio Urubu where it crosses AM 010. It would appear that this species can be taken near both small streams and large rivers. Climacia bimaculata appears to be most closely related to ti le other two Amazonian species, C. negrense and C. townesi, and the Paraguayian species. C. carpenteri, although the distinct two marks on the wings easily dist~nguishes C. bimaculafa. Clirnacia negrense n. sp . Holotype male, on a slide, in the Systematic Entomology Collections of INPA, Manaus. Description based on holotype male. Head: Yellow with fuscous markings on occiput and frons. Antennae consisting of 46 segments (only f irst 28 remaining on right antenna); f irst eight segments stramineous, becoming dark fuscous on proximal I 2 segments, and apical segments gradually returning to stramineous. Maxillary and labial palpi stramineous. Thorax: Notal region setiferous, stramineous with fuscate markings. Pleural regions fuscous. Coxa and trochanter fuscous, remainder of leg stramineous . Pilosity of legs stramineous . Wings: Forewing (Fig. 3 ) stramineaus with extensive fuscous markings. Radiomedial streak diagonal from Sc to medial vein. Pterostigmal spot large, triangular, reaching to R2+3. All crossveins fuscous and fuscous spotting along longitudinal veins. CUP and anal veins stramineous, bordered by linear fuscous streaks. Further fuscous streaking in cells of forewing apex. Hindwing with reduced pigmentation and number of crossveins.

The family is unique among the Planipennia in having aquatic larvae which are parasitic on fresh-water sponges of the genera Meyenia and Spongilla. Lestage (1 921) has stated that larvae are also parasites of filamentous algae and bryozoans .
Small, p%le yellow eggs are laid in small crevices directly above water. They are covered by several strands of whitish silk. Eggs hatch within 8 days to two weeks, whereupon the large-headed, first instar larva drops into the water and seeks out a sponge host. Sisyridae ga through three larval instars. The third instar, when ready to pupate, will leave the water and wander up to 16 meters from the water and finally spin a silken cocoon on almost any roughened surface. Oftentimes, a In the most recent revision of the Sisyridae, Parfin and Gurney (.I9561 recognized one species of Climacia and one species of Sisyra as existing in the Amazon Basin. During the present study, one additional known species of Climacia and two of Sisyra were found to occur 'within the Basin. Finally, two formerly unknown species of Sisyra and one new species of Climacia were also collected. The following morphological descriptions use the terminology for male genitalia of Patfin and Gurney (1956) .  [reprinted from Penny and Arias, 1981).
Wings: Forewings with a basic pale coloration. A serics of outer gradate crossveins present. Two ar three R-Rs crossveins present. Terminal segment of most longitudinal veins branched.
Abdomen : Ten v e r y lightly sclerotized segments. Male genitalia consisting of a serics of dentitions along caudal margin of tenth sternum, setiferous ninth sternum, and membranous aedeagus . Female genitalia consisting of elongate, sclerotized ninth tergum and sternum, and lightly sclerotized tenth tergum. KEY  Hindwing pale yellow with more sclerotization in area of pterostigma, extending t o wing apex. Diffuse fuscous ptei-ostigmal spot. Outer gradate series of three crossveins. Inner gradate series of four crossveins. Anal area w~t h long, curved setae.
Abdomen of M a l e : First nine abdominal segments very lightly sclerotized. Tenth sternum with caudal ring of long setae with dentiferous bases. This structure projects ventro-caudally as a concave lobe with many strong setae (Fig. 10) . Ninth sternum a raised ridge evenly curving to a medial, ventral projection.
Variation: One male and one female lack the dark longitudinal streaks near the wing apex, and this same male has antennae which are uiiiformly dark. This may be a brood difference, as this male was the only one caught during the early part of the year. Amazonas, km 246 --A M 01 0, 12-1 6-Vll-1979, Jarge R. Arias, 3 males, 4 females, 1 ?. All were collected with light traps.
Temporal Distribution: The female type was collected in December and the Surinam specimen in April. One Amazonas specimen was collected in January, another in September, and a series of eight specimens i n July. It appears that this species may be present at all times of the year.
Ecology: The specimen collected in January was taken from a small black-water stream running through an extensive white sand area. The Msnaus specimen was taken from an apartment in the city center near the lgarape de SBo Raimundo, a heavily polluted inlet of the Rio Negro. The other Amazonas specimens were collected from a light trap placed in the top of a large tree about 1/2 km from the Rio Urubu where it crosses A M 010. It would appear that this species can be taken near both small streams and large rivers.
Climacia bimaculata appears t o be most closely related to tile other two Amazonian species, C. negrense and C. townesi, and the Paraguayian species. C. carpenteri, although the distinct two marks on the wings easily dist~nguishes C. bimaculafa.

Clirnacia negrense n. sp .
Holotype male, on a slide, in the Systematic Entomology Collections of INPA, Manaus. Description based on holotype male.
Head: Yellow with fuscous markings on occiput and frons. Antennae consisting of 46 segments (only first 28 remaining on right antenna); first eight segments stramineous, becoming dark fuscous on proximal I 2 segments, and apical segments gradually returning to stramineous. Maxillary and labial palpi stramineous. Abdomen of Male: Abdominal segments very lightly sclerotized. Tenth sternum bearing caudal ring of long setae with dentate bases. A setiferqus medial projection extending caudally directly below the dentate ring, and a lateral projection directly below this. A concave ventral depression on ventral surface 01 genitalia (Fic~. 11) .

Female Unknown
Body Length: Male, 2.5 mm.
Geographical Distribution: The holotype and only known specimen was collected at BRAZIL: Amazonas, Barcelos, Norman D. Penny, I male.
Ecology: The holotype was taken from a black (ultraviolet) light trap operating atop a boat moored on the Rio Negro at Barcelos.
Climacia negrense appears similar to C . bimaculata, C. carpenteri, and C, townesi. C . negrense can easily be separated from C. bimaculata and C. townesi by the much more extensive fuscous markings in the anal area of the forewing. The male terminalia appear similar to C. townesi, but caudal projections are more acute and the concave depression is present in C. negrense.
This new species is named after the Rio Negro, from its type locality. Wings: In forewing costal field with 14 to 15 crossveins before pterostigmal area, where crossveins become very numerous. RI uniting with Sc beneath pterostigmal area. Two crossveins between RI and Rs; one just before pterostigma, and one directly below ptercrstigma. Series of five irregular crossveins forming inner gradate series. Forewing pale yellow, except for two short, fuscous bands in anal area and darkened crossveins [ Fig. 4 ) . Hindwitig pale yellow throughout. Outer gradate series of six crossveins, and one crossvein forming remnant of inner gradate series.
Variation: Little variation is demonstrated from the present specimens, although males appear to have about 10 antenna1 segments more than females.
Geographical Distribution: The holotype was collected on the "Corry River, Brazil" by H.S. Parrish. No Corry River exists on present day Brazilian maps. However, one day earlier the same collector collected other specimens of this same species at Tapajos [Rio ~a p a j o s ) on a trip down the Amazon River. Therefore, the locality has to be somewhere near Santarem at the mouth of the Rio Tapajos, although it was listed as "Rio Coari" in Parfin & Gurney [1956) . Other specimens in the U . S. National    This species is part of the "apicalis" group having only two radial crossveins. It can be separated from S. minuta by the light streaking of the wings and elongate male tenth sternum. S. amazonica can be separated from S. panama and S. aviasi by the pale yellow antennae. The most closely related species, S. apicalis, has distinctively patterned antennae and projectims of the male tenth sternum.
This species is named for the river system from which it comes. Holotype male, allotype female and 1 female paratype are deposited in the Systematic Entomology Collections of INPA, Manaus. Further paratypes have been distributed to the following collections: Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de SGo Paulo, Brazil; Wluseu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Belem, Para, Brazil; British Museum, Natural History, London, England; U. S . National Museum, Washington D . C., U . S . A.; Museum of Comparative Zooiogy, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U .S.A. ; Commonwealth Scientific and lndustriai Research Organization, Canberra Australia. Banks, 1908  Variation: The specimen I have before me from Florida lacks the small, acute projection at the dorsal base of the claspers, which is present in a!l Amazonian specimens. This difference may represent a distinct species, but as the species is so distinctive, and no other differences are apparent, I prefer to maintain the Amazonian specimens within the known species. Such variation would not be surprising in such a wide-ranging species. Temporal Distribution: This species can be collected at any time of the year, but appears to be most common during June and July in central Amazonia.

Sisyra apicalis
Ecology: This species is frequently collected i n light traps far away from large bodies of water. This has raised doubts as to whether larvae actually feed on freshwater sponges, as do most sisyrids. An alternative explanstion is strong powers of dispersal among abundant adults.
Sisyra apicalis is part of the "apicalis" group having two radial crossveins and longi-t~ldinally streaked wings. This species can easiiy be separated from other members of the group by the strikingly patterned antennae and ppojections of the male tenth sternum. palpi short, three-segmented, dark fuscous, and last sesment broadly triangular. Antennae with basa! two segments fuscous; subsequent 31 segments pale yellow. Compound eyes large, black. Ocelli absent.
Abdomen of Male: First eight abdominal segments lightly sclerotized. Tenth tergum and ninth sternum also lightly sclerotized and without projections. ~e n t h sternum short, beak-I i~e , sharply curved dorso-ventrally to point (Fig. 15).  Temporal Distribution: This species appears to be present i n the adult stage all year round i n the central Amazon.

Body
Ecology: This species has been found almost anywhere i n the central Amazon where light trsps are set-near large rivers or far into the upland forest.
Sisyra minuta is a distinctiva species of Sisyra because of the small size, lack of pale siresks on the forewings and stout, beak-like male tenth sternum. Of the other Amazonian species of Sisyra, only S. amazonica has pale antennse.

U.S.A.
Present description based on 1 male, 1 female pinned, and 1 male on slide.
Wings: In forewing, costal field with seven ci-ossveins before pterostigmal area. Two crossveins between R, and Rs; five crossveins forming inner gradate series, including two distirlctive proximal ones between R g and R4+5 (Fig. 8 ) . Four others forming irregular basai gradate series. Forewing pale yellow basally and fuscous apically w i t h longitudinal veins apically bordered with pale yellow. Hindvving uniformly iight fuscous; w i t h three crossveins.
Abdomen of Male: First eight abdominal segments very lightly sclerotized. Tenth tergcm and ninth sternum also lightly scierotized and w i t h~u t projections. Tenth sternum short, quadrangular, with several small teeth at the apex (Fig. 16) .
Variation : Little variation was noted in the present specimens, although illustrations in Parfin and Gurney (1956) suggest a slightly less truncate male tenth sternum. However, this may be due to the angle at which the drawing was made. --