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Genus Sisyra

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies)

Suborder Hemerobiiformia (Lacewings and Allies)

Family Sisyridae (Spongilla Lacewings)

Genus Sisyra

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Sisyra Burmeister, 1839

Explanation of Names

From the Greek σισύρα (sisýra) 'cloak of goat's hair'

Numbers

3 spp. in our area:(1)

1. Sisyra apicalis: se. US (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, TX,(2) VA(3)); south to Brazil, West Indies

2. Sisyra nigra (=fuscata): Canada and n. US (BC, ON, QC; AK, IN, MA, ME, MI, MN, NY, WI); w. Palaearctic

3. Sisyra vicaria: s. Canada and transcontinental US (BC, NS, ON, QC; AZ, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NY, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI)

Size

3-7 mm(4)

Identification

Differentiated from Climacia by the absence of outer gradates, 3 branches of RS rather than a single branch, and distinctly dark wings.

Wing venation

Keys to larvae and adults in Bowles (2006).(2)

Sisyra apicalis: Body length <5mm, antennae with distinct pale region, forewings streaked

Sisyra nigra: Body length >5mm, antennae uniformly dark brown to black, R2 fork at or apical to Sc / R1 junction

Sisyra vicaria: Body length >5mm, antennae with base (2-3 segments, rarely up to two-thirds) dark brown and remaining segments light brown to yellowish, R2 fork basal to Sc / R1 junction

Range

transcontinental, though significantly more common in the eastern half(5)

Works Cited

1.	Species catalog of the Neuroptera, Megaloptera, and Raphidioptera of America North of Mexico Penny N.D., Adams P.A., Stange L.A. 1997. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 50: 39‒114.

2.	Spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) Of North America With A Key To The Larvae And Adults David E. Bowles. 2006. Zootaxa 1357: 1-19.

3.	Annotated Checklist of the Neuropterida of Virginia (Arthropoda: Insecta) Oliver S. Flint, Jr. 2015. Banisteria, number 45, pages 3-47.

4.	The spongilla-flies, with special reference to those of the Western Hemisphere (Sisyridae, Neuroptera) Parfin, Sophy I. & Gurney, Ashley B. 1956. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 105(3360): 421-529.

5.	Neuropterida Species of the World catalogue (by J.D. Oswald)

Contributed by tom murray on 4 January, 2006 - 3:47pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, Aaron Schusteff, v belov, PaleoJon
Last updated 29 November, 2024 - 9:25pm

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