A new genus and species of green lacewings from Brazil (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Leucochrysini)

Abstract

The adult and third instar of a new genus and new species of leucochrysine green lacewings, Santocellus atlanticis gen. et sp. nov., are described from Brazil's Atlantic Forest. The first instar of Santocellus riodoce (Tauber) comb. nov. (formerly Leucochrysa riodoce) also is described. These two species share a distinguishing suite of adult and larval features: wings with dark (sometimes pustulate) markings; male with an elongate, cylindrical mediuncus and stiff membrane below; female with round, doughnut-shaped spermatheca having a shallow invagination and a sail-shaped velum that extends anteriorly; larvae with discrete, longitudinal head markings, short mandibles, broad labial palpi, and short, stubby, ventrally projecting terminal palpomeres. With this new genus (Santocellus gen. nov.), the number of genera in the tribe Leucochrysini increases to seven; Santocellus gen. nov. includes three described species: S. atlanticis sp. nov. and S. riodoce comb. nov., both from Brazil, and Santocellus bullata (Tauber) comb. nov., from Peru. © 2008 Entomological Society of America.