Guyiling jianboni gen. et sp.n., an antlion‐like lacewing, illuminating homologies and transformations in Neuroptera wing venation

Abstract

A new genus and species of antlion‐like fossil lacewing, Guyiling jianbonigen. et sp.n. (Insecta: Neuroptera) are described based on a single specimen from the Yixian Formation (Liaoning Province, China; Early Cretaceous). The new taxon exhibits derived traits such as distally dilated antennae and well‐developed anterior Banksian line (known in Myrmeleontidae), but also genuine plesiomorphies (at the level of Myrmeleontiformia), such as the divergence of a distinct CuA1 stem from MP2 + CuA1 (forewing), and a basal origin of MA (diverging from RP + MA; both wing pairs). This combination is unique among the ‘Palaeoleontidae’, a group better considered as a paraphyletic assemblage of various stem‐Myrmeleontiformia. The wing morphology of the new species is considered in the light of a survey of wing venation topological homologies (and implied transformations) among several Neuroptera families. The survey includes a revision of the holotype of Leptolingia jurassica Ren (Grammolingiidae; Jiulongshan Formation, Daohugou locality, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China; middle Jurassic). The forewing morphology of Guyiling jianbonigen. et sp.n. demonstrates that the fusion of MP2 with CuA, and the differentiation of CuA into two distinct main stems (namely CuA1 and CuA2) are traits shared with Myrmeleontidae and Ascalaphidae (and possibly Nemopteridae). However, the survey also demonstrates that a fusion of MP2 with CuA occurred repeatedly among Neuropterida, although by means of various modalities (namely translocation vs regular fusion). The ‘pectinate fusion’ of CuA(1) with MP2 [i.e. CuA1 has no distinct stem and emits successive branches from MP2 + CuA(1) partim] is a further step in this fusion, and occurred repeatedly as well (at least in the hind wings of Osmylidae and Nymphidae, and both fore‐ and hindwings of a sub‐group of Myrmeleontiformia including Myrmeleontidae and Ascalaphidae, and possibly Nemopteridae). It is anticipated that the current contribution will constitute useful background information for further studies, focusing on particular transformation cases, ideally including a documentation of intraspecific variation.