The Megaloptera (Insecta: Neuropterida) of Colombia

Abstract

The knowledge of Megaloptera (Neuropterida) fauna of Colombia is updated. Based on the specimens studied and literature records, it was determined that 18 species grouped into three genera (Ilyobius Enderlein, 1910, Chloronia Banks, 1908, and Corydalus Latreille, 1802) and two families (Sialidae and Corydalidae) are recognized to occur in the country. Within the provided records, two new species of Corydalus, Corydalus liui sp. n. and Corydalus sophiae sp. n., are described and illustrated. Last larval instar of C. armatus Hagen, 1861 and C. liui sp. n. are described and illustrated. Comments about the biology and distribution of the majority of the species are included. Illustrations of the external morphology and genital structures of selected species are also provided. Keys for identification of adults and larvae accounting with descriptions of Colombian Megaloptera are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Dobsonflies
• alderflies
• Corydalus
• new species
• faunistics
• Colombia

Acknowledgements

We offer our sincere thanks to Francisco Serna of Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Bogotá, Erika Valentina Vergara of Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Bogotá, and Colección Taxonómica Nacional de Insectos ‘Luis María Murillo’ Corpoica, Mosquera, Cundinamarca, Emilio Realpe from Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Alexander García from Universidad Distrital, Bogotá, Fernando Sarmiento of the Universidad de la Salle, Bogotá, Nancy Carrejo, Museo Entomológico of the Universidad del Valle, Cali, Marta Wolff from the Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, John Albeiro Quiroz of the Museo Entomológico “Francisco Luis Gallego”, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín, Fernando Fernandez and Carlos Sarmiento of the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Bogotá for allowing us to revise the specimens deposited under their care. Thanks to Robin Thomson, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Marco Gaiani, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, and Xingyue Liu, China Agricultural University, Beijing for their kindness to share photographs on type specimens of Megaloptera from Colombia and Venezuela. The first author is in much indebted to Diego Gomez, Universidad de los Andes for share photographs and data of Megaloptera taken during his field trips in Colombia. Sincere acknowledgment to Francisco Gamarra, Universidad de los Andes for contributing the majority of the photographs used herein, and Omar Bernal, Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, Bogotá for the drawings of the genitalia used in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.