Adults and larvae of two Leucochrysa ( Leucochrysa ) species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): descriptions, biological notes, and relationships

This taxonomic study includes: (i) a redescription of Leucochrysa ( Leucochrysa ) nigrilabris (Banks) (♂ and ♀), based on the type specimen and new material and (ii) images of the Leucochrysa ( L. ) insularis (Walker) type, adult color polymorphism, and genital characters (♂ and ♀). For both species, it provides: (iii) descriptions of the larvae, (iv) biological notes, and (v) geographic records. Using the above information, we compare the two species with each other and with other Leucochrysa ( Leucochrysa ) species that purportedly are closely related. We conclude: First, the larval features of L. ( L. ) nigrilabris and L. ( L. ) insularis coincide with those previously described as characteristic of the genus Leucochrysa and its subgenus Leucochrysa . Second, based on their genitalia (♂ and ♀), larval morphology, and biology (e.g., deposition of eggs in clusters), the two species are distinct, but very closely related. And, third, L. ( L. ) nigrilabris and L. ( L. ) insularis share several characteristics with the Leucochrysa ( L. ) “ varia -like” species; these include similar adult color polymorphisms and aspects of their larval morphology. However, their genitalia (♂ and ♀) differ significantly from those of the described L. ( L. ) “ varia -like” species, and thus we consider the two sets of species to be distinct.