Diversity of Lacewings (Neuroptera) in an Altitudinal Gradient of the Tacaná Volcano, Southern Mexico.

Neuroptera is an order of insects with a moderate diversity of species numbers yet a high between-family morphological diversity, which has a significant ecological role as a predator. However, there are few studies focused on describing changes in species diversity along environmental gradients. We evaluated changes in the alpha and beta diversity of species and the higher taxa in Neuroptera communities in the Tacaná Volcano in southern Mexico. Five sites each at different altitudes were studied through systematic annual sampling. The taxonomic and phylogenetic alpha diversity were analyzed, as well as the beta diversity and its components, species turnover and nestedness. The alpha diversity had two trends: (1) decreased standardized richness and taxonomic distinctness with increasing altitude, and (2) increased estimated richness and species diversity at intermediate altitudes. The highest turnover values for species, as well as for supra-specific taxa, were recorded at sites with lower altitudes. The highest total beta diversity value was recorded at elevations above 3000 m, whereas the highest number of species and supra-specific taxa were observed at sites between 600 and 2000 m, with an evident decrease above 3000 m. The type of vegetation and environmental conditions may be influencing the decrease in diversity toward higher elevations, which could explain the niche specialization of Neuroptera species to particular sites within the gradient. These results highlight the need to study the environmental factors and their effects on species composition along an elevation gradient.

First record of the genus Lainius Navás, 1913 (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) in Mexico, with notes on the distribution of Apochrysinae

ABSTRACT The species Lainius constellatus Navás is recorded for the first time from Mexico; thus this report represents the northernmost record of the genus and species for the Americas. In addition, it provides data on the variation in color marks and a description of the hypandrium internum. A brief summary of the distribution of the species belonging to the subfamily Apochrysinae is provided, with emphasis on the three American genera, which share distribution mostly in the Pacific domain of the Brazilian subregion, ranging from the Mexican transition zone to possibly the Chacoan subregion.

Four new species of Plega Navás, 1928 (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) from Mexico.

Four new species of Plega Navás, 1928 (Mantispidae: Symphrasinae) from Mexico are herein described and illustrated, namely P. mixteca sp. n. from Oaxaca and Jalisco, P. stangei sp. n. from Morelos and Oaxaca, P. sonorae sp. n. from Sonora, and P. spinosa sp. n. from Guerrero, Jalisco, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, and Veracruz. Including these new species, Plega's diversity raises to 17 described species, of which 12 are recorded from Mexico, and one of them, Plega variegata Navás, 1928, is herein proposed as nomen dubium. A taxonomic key to the known species of Plega from Mexico is provided.

A new species of Ceraeochrysa Adams (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), with a key to the species from Mexico.

The genus Ceraeochrysa Adams is widely distributed in the New World, from southeastern Canada to Argentina, with 15 out of 61 previously known species recorded in Mexico. In this paper, Ceraeochrysa tacanensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Volcán Tacaná, Chiapas, and an identification key to Ceraeochrysa species present in Mexico is provided. The new species is similar to others with swollen and darkened posterior branches of the cubital vein, and it can be separated from these other species by an elongate gonapsis extending from the base of the gonosaccus; the gonapsis is slightly upturned, terminating in a rounded apex with dorsal microteeth. Females of the new species have non-distinctive genitalia morphology. However, they can be associated with males of the species by body color pattern, synchrony, and sympatry.