Abstract
The present paper comprises the first illustrated key for the genera of the Berothidae. Distribution maps for all genera are provided and distribution areas are discussed. A phylogenetic analysis based on the matrix of morphological characters of Aspöck and Nemeschkal (1998) using additional taxa and a modified approach concerning the homology of the genital sclerites (Aspöck and Aspöck 2008) yielded the following conflicting results: (i) The Trichomatinae are nested within the Nosybinae – which is considered an implausible position. (ii) Within the Berothinae, the genus Podallea appeared as the sister group of Asadeteva + Nodalla, whereas previously it was the sister group of the Isoscelipteron clade. In addition, the phylogenetic relevance of a peculiar phenomenon concerning the sclerites of the seventh abdominal segment of the females is discussed.
Highlights
The Berothidae Handlirsch, 1908, are a small neuropteran family that comprises about 110 known species in 24 genera
A phylogenetic analysis based on the matrix of morphological characters of Aspöck and Nemeschkal (1998) using additional taxa and a modified approach concerning the homology of the genital sclerites (Aspöck and Aspöck 2008) yielded the following conflicting results: (i) The Trichomatinae are nested within the Nosybinae – which is considered an implausible position. (ii) Within the Berothinae, the genus Podallea appeared as the sister group of Asadeteva + Nodalla, whereas previously it was the sister group of the Isoscelipteron clade
The fossil record from the Tertiary is comparatively poor, and only a few berothids are known from Baltic and English ambers (Krüger 1923, Wedmann et al 2013)
Summary
The Berothidae Handlirsch, 1908, are a small neuropteran family that comprises about 110 known species in 24 genera. The fossil record of Berothidae dates back as far as the Middle Jurassic, but the family is assumed to be much older (Makarkin et al 2011). Most of the fossil material was described from the Cretaceous e.g. in Lebanese amber (Whalley 1980), Burmese amber (Engel and Grimaldi 2008), New Jersey amber (Grimaldi 2000) and Canadian amber (Klimaszewski and Kevan 1986). The fossil record from the Tertiary is comparatively poor, and only a few berothids are known from Baltic and English ambers (Krüger 1923, Wedmann et al 2013). A list of known fossil Berothidae is provided in Makarkin et al (2011)
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