Abstract
Leptochrysa Adams & Penny is one of four genera of Nothochrysinae recorded from the New World. Previously, this genus and its only described species, Leptochrysaprisca Adams & Penny, were known from a single female specimen that is discolored and damaged by fungal infestation. Thus, accurate information on the taxon was limited mostly to the wings and some other external features. Here, I describe a recently collected, second female specimen with the goal of providing images of the adult coloration and elucidating characters (especially the female genitalia) that were unavailable earlier. Some variation between the two known specimens is also noted and used in interpreting venation characters. Finally, comparisons are made with other extant genera pertaining to the placement of the species within Chrysopidae.
Highlights
This article is the second of two that focus on recently found specimens of South American Nothochrysinae (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae)
Because of its rarity, it has not been included in any molecular analyses. This genus is known from only one species, Leptochrysa prisca Adams & Penny, and from only one specimen, the badly damaged female holotype collected in Amazonas, Peru
To allow the genus to be compared with those in recent morphology-based phylogenetic studies of the Chrysopoidea (e.g., Makarkin and Archibald 2013, Breitkreuz 2018), an effort was made to record relevant characters used in those studies
Summary
This article is the second of two that focus on recently found specimens of South American Nothochrysinae (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae). Because of its rarity, it has not been included in any molecular analyses This genus is known from only one species, Leptochrysa prisca Adams & Penny, and from only one specimen, the badly damaged female holotype collected in Amazonas, Peru. Because this specimen was infested with fungal mycelia, Adams and Penny (1992b) mainly described external features, with emphasis on wing characteristics. To allow the genus to be compared with those in recent morphology-based phylogenetic studies of the Chrysopoidea (e.g., Makarkin and Archibald 2013, Breitkreuz 2018), an effort was made to record relevant characters used in those studies
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