Abstract
The genus Rapisma McLachlan, 1866 (Insecta: Neuroptera: Ithonidae) is a rare and poorly known lacewing group endemic to Asia. Here I present a revision of the Rapisma species from China, with description of two new species, namely Rapisma changqingensis sp. n. and Rapisma chikuni sp. n. The Chinese Rapisma now comprises five species that respectively belong to two monophyletic species groups. Rapisma changqingensis sp. n. represents the northernmost record of the genus, being distributed at the border of eastern Palaearctic and Oriental regions. Moreover, the homology of genital sclerites of Rapisma is also updated.
Highlights
The genus Rapisma McLachlan, 1866 is one of the extremely rare groups of the holometabolous insect order Neuroptera
Rapisma is the only extant ithonid genus that occurs in Asia, with distribution area primarily confined to the Oriental region, and it comprises 18 valid described species (Oswald 2017)
In this paper we present a taxonomic revision of Rapisma from China, providing descriptions or re-descriptions of all Chinese Rapisma species, including two new species
Summary
The genus Rapisma McLachlan, 1866 (commonly called montane lacewings) is one of the extremely rare groups of the holometabolous insect order Neuroptera. The adults of Rapisma are a kind of spectacular lacewings, with relatively large body-size and moth-like general appearance. They are characterized by the broad body, the head retracted under stout prothorax, the short antennae, and the broad wings, usually being greenish, yellowish or brownish, with complex venations (see detailed generic characters in the systematic section below). 12 Rapisma species are known respectively from a single specimen, suggesting the rareness of this genus
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