WintertonShaun L.GuekHock PingBrooksStephen J.A charismatic new species of green lacewing discovered in Malaysia (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae): the confluence of citizen scientist, online image database and cybertaxonomyZookeys782012201221411110.3897/zookeys.214.3220 Semachrysa jade urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2F358345-BE61-46B5-9672-10C1F9730719 http://species-id.net/wiki/Semachrysa_jade sp. n.Figures 1–6Type material.

Holotype female, MALAYSIA: Selangor: Road B57, 0.8 km SSW of entrance of Selangor State Park, (3.3057,101.693) closed forest, Guek Hock-Ping, 27.i.2012 (California Academy of Sciences Collection).

Paratype: MALAYSIA: Sabah: Tawau, DR. Lim, 8.vii.1981, on Cocao (Natural History Museum, London).

Diagnosis.

Extensive black markings with white fenestrations in basal portion of both wings; forewing with basal four to five crossveins between R and Rs converging posteriorly, Rs closely approximating Psm basally; three crossveins between Cu1 and Cu2, 1st posterior marginal crossvein forked with posterior arm joining to Cu2 petiolate to margin; two dark spots across frons below antennae; single marking between antennal bases; dark markings medially on abdominal tergites 2–4; sternite seven with acuminate posteromedial margin with tuft of short dark setae.

Description.

Female: Wing length (forewing: 15.0 mm; hindwing: 13.5–14.0 mm). Overall colouration in live specimens bright green and yellow, with dark markings on head, abdomen and both wings (pale yellow in dried specimens). Head. Yellow with black marking on vertex between antennae and small quadrangular marking on frons below antennal base and proximal to eye margin; clypeus with brown suffusion laterally; labrum emarginate medially; antenna pale green but otherwise unmarked, slightly longer than forewing; flagellum with at least 50 flagellomeres; palpi green, unmarked. Thorax. Prothorax green with small brown mark anterolaterally on pronotum; setae short, green, and relatively sparse, darker and more dense laterally; mesonotum  and metanotum yellow green, scutum darker in preserved specimen, mesoscutellum pale yellow, setae sparse and pale yellow to white; legs very pale green with white setae, setae shorter and yellowish distally on foretibiae; distal tarsomere and claws brownish on all legs; wings relatively rounded, forewing costal area broad, rounded basally, then straight to wing apex; forewing with Rs sigmoid and closely approximating pseudomedial (Psm) basally; first five r-rs crossveins convergent, remaining crossveins sub parallel; seven inner gradate crossveins, meeting Psm; nine outer gradate crossveins; three crossveins between Cu1 and Cu2, 1st posterior marginal crossvein forked with posterior arm joining to Cu2, petiolate to margin; hind wing with five inner gradate crossveins, seven outer gradate crossveins; wing veins with setae relatively elongate and pedicellate, pedicels longer in basal portion of wing, setae colour corresponding to wing markings and colour of wing venation; wing hyaline with markings as per Figure 5, venation mostly pale green, forewing costal crossveins dark anteriorly on crossveins 1–3 and posteriorly on crossveins 8–10; basal subcostal crossvein dark; membrane infuscate and venation dark in medial area of both wings from R vein to posterior margin, markings darker posteriorly with cells (e.g. dcc, c2 and cu2) with white fenestration (Figs 1–4); basal portion of cell m2 infuscate; spot at base of wing on cubital vein; fourth posterior marginal crossvein dark distally. Abdomen. Yellow green dorsally, white ventrally; dark medial stripe on tergites 2–4; poorly defined dark spot laterally on tergites 3–5; sternite 8 with tuft of short strong setae medially. Female terminalia (Figure 6): Trichobothria ca. 25; sternite seven with broadly acuminate posteromedial margin with tuft of short dark setae; subgenitale relatively broad; spermatheca with vela relatively short and straight; ventral impression relatively shallow and wide; duct with slight coil.

Semachrysa jade sp. n., female holotype habitus (Morphbank: 791595). Forewing length: 15.0 mm. Photographer: Guek Hock Ping.

Semachrysa jade sp. n. female habitus, specimen that was originally photographed and released (Morphbank: 791596). Forewing length: 15.0 mm. Photographer: Guek Hock Ping.

Semachrysa jade sp. n. female habitus (Morphbank: 791597). Forewing length: 15.0 mm. Photographer: Guek Hock Ping.

Type locality of Semachrysa jade sp. n., closed forest, 0.8 km SSW of entrance of Selangor State Park, Selangor, Malaysia (GPS: 3.3057,101.693). Photographer: Guek Hock Ping.

Semachrysa jade sp. n. A forewing B hindwing. Vestiture omitted. Abbreviations: dcc, distal cubital cell; ig, inner gradate series; psc, pseudocubital vein; psm, pseudomedial vein; og; outer gradate series. Scale line: 1.0 mm.

Semachrysa jade sp. n. Female terminalia with structures labeled. Scale line: 0.2 mm.

Comments.

The unusual new species is easily differentiated from all other species of Semachrysa by the distinctive wing venation mark between the antennal bases and only two spots across the frons, as well as the female abdominal sternite 7 being posteromedially acuminate with a tuft of strong setae. Only the female is known at this stage. Semachrysa jade sp. n. is similar in appearance to Semachrysa wallacei, based on head and wing markings. Like Semachrysa jade sp. n., Semachrysa wallacei is also only known from the female.

Etymology.

This new species is named after the daughter of the senior author, Jade Tanya Winterton.

Revised dichotomous key to species of <italic><tp:taxon-name>Semachrysa</tp:taxon-name></italic> Brooks

(Modified after Brooks 1983)

1Wings unmarked except for indistinct small spot on dcc and black border on costaSemachrysa dammermanni (Esben-Petersen, 1929)
Wings with numerous brown or black markings2
2Forewing with strong dark brown marking at base of outer gradate series3
Forewing without dark markings in this position (sometimes very faint)4
3Large dark brown marking present on fourth posterior marginal crossvein of forewing; small marking present on Cu2; male genitalia with arcessus narrow, without ridges; female genitalia with duct of spermatheca twisted, vela very longSemachrysa contorta Brooks, 1983
Small mark present on fourth posterior marginal crossvein of forewing, but with large brown mark on dcc; male genitalia with arcessus broad, ridged; female genitalia with duct of spermatheca and vela shortSemachrysa matsumurae (Okamoto, 1914)
4Single median marking on vertex either between, or immediately posterior to antennal bases5
Medial marking absent on vertex between or immediately posterior to antennal bases7
5Extensive dark markings in basal portion of forewing from R vein to posterior margin of wing; basal four to five crossveins between R and Rs converging posteriorly; three crossveins between Cu1 and Cu2, 1st posterior marginal crossvein forked with posterior arm joining to Cu2 petiolate to marginSemachrysa jade sp. n.
Dark markings in basal portion of forewing restricted to basal cells along posterior margin of forewing; basal four to five crossveins between R and Rs parallel; two crossveins between Cu1 and Cu2, 1st posterior marginal crossvein not forked and separate from Cu2 to wing margin6
6Hindwing with distinct brown marking on dcc and faint shading on posterior marginal crossveinsSemachrysa wallacei Brooks, 1983
Hindwing with only faint markings on dcc or forked posterior forked marginal crossveins, but marking present on fourth posterior marginal crossveinSemachrysa picilabris(Kimmins, 1952)
7Prominent markings at base of inner gradate series of forewing and on fourth posterior marginal crossvein; male abdominal setae dense and fineSemachrysa papuensis Brooks, 1983
Forewing lacking above combination of markings, though pale suffusion may be present8
8Two spots on frons below antennaeSemachrysa cruciata (Esben-Petersen, 1928)
Three spots on frons below antennae9
9Brown band extending from along inner margin of eye from postocular lobe to anterior edge of vertexSemachrysapolysticta Brooks, 1983
Brown band absent; isolated mark on postocular lobe10
10Fore and hindwing lightly suffused with brown, particularly along posterior margins, distinct spots absentSemachrysa minuta Brooks, 1983
Fore and hind light brown suffusion admixed with dark markings11
11Darkest marking on forewing on dcc12
Darkest marking on forewing on fourth posterior marginal crossvein13
12Forewing dcc with large marking, extending from anal veins to second cubital cell (c2); many crossveins with pale brown suffusion including Rs and inner gradate seriesSemachrysa sagitta Brooks, 1983
Forewing dcc with small marking, not extending to anal veins or c2; all crossveins paleSemachrysa nigribasis (Banks, 1920)
13Small species, forewing length 7.5 mm; four inner gradate and five outer gradate crossveinsSemachrysa hyndi Brooks, 1983
Larger species, forewing length 9.0 mm or greater; at least six inner gradate and outer gradate crossveins14
14Forewing length 9.0 mm, faint marking on dcc with extensive brown suffusion; female spermatheca with deep ventral impressionSemachrysa decorata(Esben-Petersen, 1913)
Forewing length 13.0 mm, dcc lacking dark markings and brown suffusion posteriorly; female spermatheca with shallow ventral impressionSemachrysa claggi (Banks, 1937)
BrooksSJ (1983) A new genus of Oriental lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History (Entomology) 47: 1-26.