New silky lacewings from the Middle Jurassic of Northeastern China (Neuroptera: Psychopsidae)

Abstract

Psychopsidae, a small family of Neuroptera, comprises only 27 extant species and 38 fossil species. The limited species records and poor specimen preservation greatly hinder our exploration of the early evolutionary process of Psychopsidae. In this paper, one new genus with one new species, Nullipsychops longialatus gen. et sp. nov., and two new species of Cretapsychops Jepson et al., 2009, namely, C. stigmosus sp. nov. and C. epunctatus sp. nov., are described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia of China. Based on the new fossil material, we summarized in detail the intraspecific variation of venation and wing markings in Cretapsychops decipiens Peng et al., 2010. Furthermore, we also systematically review the morphological features of Cretapsychops among Cretaceous lineages and Jurassic lineages; and a key to Cretapsychops species is provided. Considering the relatively rare Jurassic psychopsids, the newly discovered Jurassic psychopsids enhance the species diversity of Jurassic psychopsids, and promote our understanding of the early evolution of Psychopsidae.