Data on the Dusty Lacewing Fauna of Northwestern Argentina with Description of a New Species ( Neuroptera : Coniopterygidae )

The number of coniopterygid species hitherto known from Argentina is only 20, which, considering the size of the country and the great variety of habitats and climatic zones, is rather low. Moreover, 8 of them were described recently [1]. On the other hand, almost all of the Coniopterygidae species reported from Argentina (including the recently described one) are present in the northwestern part of the country. On a recent collecting trip to this region, nearly 60 dusty lacewing specimens (mostly males) were collected by M. E. Irwin in two northwestern provinces of Argentina with Malaise traps. The captured coniopterygids belong to six described and to a previously undescribed species. As the country and collector were the same in all cases, these names are not given with the collecting data repeatedly, with the exception of type material of the new species. On the other hand, the main distinguishing features of the three species of Parasemidalis (Stangesemidalis) are given, as their recently resolved separation was supported and enhanced by the investigation of the present material. The holotype of the new species is deposited in the entomological collection of the Foundation Miguel Lillo, Tucuman, Argentina. Otherwise the examined material is deposited in the collection of California Academy of Sciences, in the La Plata Museum, Argentina, in the entomological collection of the Foundation Miguel Lillo and in collection of Hungarian Natural History Museum.


Introduction
The number of coniopterygid species hitherto known from Argentina is only 20, which, considering the size of the country and the great variety of habitats and climatic zones, is rather low.Moreover, 8 of them were described recently [1].On the other hand, almost all of the Coniopterygidae species reported from Argentina (including the recently described one) are present in the northwestern part of the country.On a recent collecting trip to this region, nearly 60 dusty lacewing specimens (mostly males) were collected by M. E. Irwin in two northwestern provinces of Argentina with Malaise traps.The captured coniopterygids belong to six described and to a previously undescribed species.As the country and collector were the same in all cases, these names are not given with the collecting data repeatedly, with the exception of type material of the new species.On the other hand, the main distinguishing features of the three species of Parasemidalis (Stangesemidalis) are given, as their recently resolved separation was supported and enhanced by the investigation of the present material.The holotype of the new species is deposited in the entomological collection of the Foundation Miguel Lillo, Tucuman, Argentina.Otherwise the examined material is deposited in the collection of California Academy of Sciences, in the La Plata Museum, Argentina, in the entomological collection of the Foundation Miguel Lillo and in collection of Hungarian Natural History Museum.

Psyche
This species is widely distributed in the Neotropical Region.In Argentina it is known from Buenos Aires and from the northwestern provinces.Meinander, 1990 Examined Material. 1 male, Salta province, 4 km W of Cafayate; 26 • 04.6 S, 66 • 00.In light of our present lack of knowledge for determination of females for extra-European species of this genus, it is impossible to identify these specimens.
Taxonomic rank of Stangesemidalis Gozález Olazo, 1984 was reduced recently to a subgenus of Parasemidalis Enderlein, 1905, simultaneously with description of the given species and recognition of three species of the subgenus [1].In addition, Figures 12(A)-12(D) of Meinander [2] also suggest with high probability that he referred to P. (S.) enriquei and not P. (S.) subandina.Investigation of present material supports the validity of all three species belonging to the subgenus Stangesemidalis.The most important features of P. (S.) enriquei are the very dark (usually black) thoracal sutures, hypandrium with deep, V-shaped incision in caudal view, the truncated paramere, and the ectoproct with several rather strong bristles caudally.(See also the corresponding key in work of Sziráki [3]).Distribution: northwestern provinces of Argentina.

Parasemidalis (Stangesemidalis) principiae Sziráki et Greve, 2001
Examined material.brown thoracic sutures, hypandrium with deep, V-shaped incision in caudal view, the truncate paramere, and the ectoproct with a single prominent bristle caudally.Distribution: Chile and northwestern provinces of Argentina.The most important features of P. (S.) subandina are the slightly hooked and in lateral view gradually widened paramere, hypandrium, with wide, U-shaped caudal part in caudal view, and the ectoproct with a few rather strong bristles caudally.(The mentioned shape of the paramere may be recognized in the otherwise somewhat schematic illustration of the original description of the species [4]).Distribution: northwestern provinces of Argentina.
Diagnosis.Membrane of wings moderately spotted.Posterior part of fused stylus + gonarcus plate-like, hypandrium with nearly rectangular caudal projection, main structure of penis in ventral view rectangular.Male genitalia (Figure 2) well sclerotized.Ectoproct short, without any caudal projection.Tenth sternite prominent, with dense short hairs.Hypandrium bears a thin, platelike, nearly rectangular projection caudally.Dorsal sclerite of internal genitalia, which is regarded by Meinander [5] as the gonarcus, rather may be interpreted as fused gonarcus + styli.Posterior part of this sclerite is plate like, and curved upwards, while its anterior part bears a median and two lateral projections curved ventrally.The lateral projections are connected membraneously to the parameres.Parameres caudally forked, pointed, and ventrally connected by medially knobbed bridge, which probably developed from stylus part of stylus + gonarcus sclerite complex.(It is worth mention that the same bridge ventrally of paramere in some other coniopterygids is generally regarded as a part of the fused styli).
Penis is a nearly quadrate plate, with larger posterior and smaller anterior pair of lateral projections, and dorsally directed hairy median lobe.
Incasemidalis lineatellus sp.n. resembles I. chilensis Meinander, 1990 because of the dark spots at some cross veins, the similarity of the stylus + gonarcus sclerite, the presence of the hairy dorsal process of the penis, and because of the presence of a caudal projection of the hypandrium.