Larval Morphology and biology data of Leucochrysa (Nodita) cruentata (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), first record in Argentina

Abstract

Leucochrysa is the largest and most diverse genus of Chrysopidae. It includes approximately 190 species. It is distributed from northern United States in the north, to northwestern Argentina in the south, with the greatest species diversity in the Neotropical region. The two subgenera: L. (Leucochrysa) McLachlan and L. (Nodita) Navás previously were represented in Argentina by five and two species respectively Here we report a third Argentinian species of L. (Nodita): Leucochrysa (Nodita) cruentata (Schneider) from the Yungas piedmont zone of northwestern Argentina. Adults
were collected in Citrus and adjacent agroecosystems. The species’ habitat association and active, predaceous larvae lead us to propose that L. (N.) cruentata might perform an important role in the biological control of insect pests. The neotropical species
of Nodita, including their biological features and their larval morphology, are poorly known. Here, we report the first record of L. (N.) cruentata in Argentina. We also describe for the first time the external morphology of the species’ third larval stage;
we include illustrations, details of the chaetotaxy, and life cycle data. In addition, we provide a key for identifying the third instars of the six neotropical Leucochrysa (Nodita) species for which larvae are known.