DNA Barcoding of Portuguese Lacewings (Neuroptera) and Snakeflies (Raphidioptera) (Insecta, Neuropterida).

Daniel Oliveira,Joana Pinto,Nuno Fonseca,Joana Paupério,Cátia Chaves,Pedro Beja,Sónia Ferreira

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1054.64608

Abstract

The orders Neuroptera and Raphidioptera include the species of insects known as lacewings and snakeflies, respectively. In Portugal, these groups account for over 100 species, some of which are very difficult to identify by morphological analysis. This work is the first to sample and DNA sequence lacewings and snakeflies of Portugal. A reference collection was built with captured specimens that were identified morphologically. DNA barcode sequences of 658 bp were obtained from 243 specimens of 54 species. The results showed that most species can be successfully identified through DNA barcoding, with the exception of seven species of Chrysopidae (Neuroptera). Additionally, the first published distribution data are presented for Portugal for the neuropterans Gymnocnemiavariegata (Schneider, 1845) and Myrmecaelurus (Myrmecaelurus) trigrammus (Pallas, 1771).

Highlights

Neuropterida is a superorder of insects which encompasses the orders Neuroptera, Raphidioptera and Megaloptera
For the almost 200 species known in the Iberian Peninsula, around half have been recorded in Portugal, spanning 10 families (Aspöck et al 2001; Letardi and Almeida 2013; Monserrat and Triviño 2013; Oliveira and Ferreira 2020; this work)
DNA barcode sequences of 658 bp were obtained for 243 specimens of Neuropterida, representing 54 of the 104 species known to occur in continental Portugal (Fig. 1; Suppl. material 1: Table S1)

Summary

Introduction

Neuropterida is a superorder of insects which encompasses the orders Neuroptera, Raphidioptera and Megaloptera. For the almost 200 species known in the Iberian Peninsula, around half have been recorded in Portugal, spanning 10 families (Aspöck et al 2001; Letardi and Almeida 2013; Monserrat and Triviño 2013; Oliveira and Ferreira 2020; this work). The small order Raphidioptera Latreille, 1810, groups about 260 species of insects worldwide (Aspöck 2002a), which are commonly known as snakeflies. From the 16 species of Raphidioptera present in the Iberian Peninsula, six species are known to occur in Portugal (Monserrat and Papenberg 2015; Papenberg 2015). Inocelliidae is represented by a single species: Fibla hesperica Navás, 1915 (Monserrat and Papenberg 2015; Papenberg 2015)

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