The neuropterid fauna of Dominican and Mexican amber (Neuropterida: Megaloptera, Neuroptera)

Abstract

The neuropterid fauna of early Miocene Dominican and Oligocene-Miocene Mexican amber is treated. The fauna consists entirely of Megaloptera and Neuroptera while the snakeflies (Raphidioptera) are not presently known in Tertiary ambers from the New World. Fifteen species are recognized, all in living genera and subgenera: Sialidae, Sialis (Protosialis) casca, new species (Dominican); Ascalaphidae, Ululodes paleonesia, new species (Dominican), Amoea electrodominica, new species (Dominican); Chrysopidae, Chrysopa glaesaria, new species (Dominican), C. vetula, new species (Dominican), Leucochrysa (Nodita) prisca, new species (Dominican); Coniopterygidae, Coniopteryx antiquua, new species (Dominican), Spiloconis glaesaria Meinander (Dominican), S. oediloma, new species (Dominican); Hemerobiidae, Notiobiella thaumasta Oswald (Dominican), Sympherobius sp. (Dominican); Mantispidae, Dicromantispa electromexicana, new species (Mexican), D. moronei, new species (Dominican); Feroseta prisca Poinar, nomen emendatum (Dominican); Myrmeleontidae, Porrerus dominicanus Poinar and Stange (Dominican). Immature stages of Ascalaphidae (two species of Ululodes; Dominican), Chrysopidae (genus indet.; Dominican), and Myrmeleontidae (P. dominicanus?; Dominican) are reported. The neuropterid fossil record is summarized and the Dominican and Mexican amber faunas are compared to other neuropterid amber faunas. The biogeographic and paleoecological implications of the Miocene fossils are discussed. Abundance and diversity of Neuroptera in ambers appear to be related to the abundance of Sternorrhyncha, on which many neuropterans feed.