Polystoechotidae
Encyclopedia
The Polystoechotidae or giant lacewings are a small family
of winged insects
of the insect order
Neuroptera
. This family contains three living and seven extinct genera. The modern giant lacewings have a notably disjunct distribution
while the extinct genera had a more global range. The family is considered one of the most primitive living neuropteran families. Along with the moth lacewings
, giant lacewings may be phytophagous
.
that are similar in appearance to the related family Ithonidae
. P. S. Welch conducted research in 1914 on Polystoechotidae larvae resulted in the conclusion that the larvae were carnivorous. Further study has shown the immature Polystoechotidae to be phytophagous
. The first instar
stage for modern larvae is a carabaeiform grub.
and two in the Neotropical region. All four species inhabit ares with forested microthermal
to lower mesothermal
climates. Polystoechotes has the widest modern range with P. punctatus inhabiting forests across North America
south along the mountains to Panama
and P. gazullai inhabiting forests in Central Chile
. The North American range of P. punctatus has diminished, disappearing from eastern North America by the 1950s, and now appears restricted to Western North America. Platystoechotes lineatus, the sole species in Platystoechotes, is restricted in range to the Sierra Nevada mountains in California
, USA
. The remaining modern species Fontecilla graphicus shares habitat with P. gazullai, also inhabiting forests in Central Chile. The paleorange for the family includes sites in western North America such as the Florrisant formation
in Colorado and the Okanagan Highland
sites in Washington, USA and British Columbia
, Canada
. Species of the genus Palaeopsychops have been found in the Eocene
Fur Formation
of Denmark
and genera from the Jurassic
have been found in China
, Tajikistan
, and Kazakhstan
showing a wider geographic range then is found in the modern taxa.
, Polystoechotidae are regarded as the most primitive living members of Neuroptera. The clade
formed by Polystoechotidae and Ithonidae forms a sister group to the remaining families in the suborder Hemerobiiformia. The mitochondrial DNA
for the species Polystoechotes punctatus was sequenced and the results published in 2009. The genome, consisting of 16,036 base pair
s shows a large section of over 11,000 base pairs which are noncoding. This region is found widely among members of Neuroptera but not in the close sister orders Raphidioptera or Megaloptera
.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of winged insects
Pterygota
Pterygota is a subclass of insects that includes the winged insects. It also includes insect orders that are secondarily wingless ....
of the insect order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Neuroptera
Neuroptera
The insect order Neuroptera, or net-winged insects, includes the lacewings, mantidflies, antlions, and their relatives. The order contains some 6,010 species...
. This family contains three living and seven extinct genera. The modern giant lacewings have a notably disjunct distribution
Disjunct distribution
In biology, a taxon with a disjunct distribution is one that has two or more groups that are related but widely separated from each other geographically...
while the extinct genera had a more global range. The family is considered one of the most primitive living neuropteran families. Along with the moth lacewings
Ithonidae
The Ithonidae or moth lacewings are a small family of winged insects of the insect order Neuroptera. This family contains a total of nine genera, seven living and two extinct. The modern moth lacewings have a notably disjunct distribution while the extinct genera had a more global range. The family...
, giant lacewings may be phytophagous
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
.
Description and ecology
Polystoechotidae are typically medium to large neuropteransNeuroptera
The insect order Neuroptera, or net-winged insects, includes the lacewings, mantidflies, antlions, and their relatives. The order contains some 6,010 species...
that are similar in appearance to the related family Ithonidae
Ithonidae
The Ithonidae or moth lacewings are a small family of winged insects of the insect order Neuroptera. This family contains a total of nine genera, seven living and two extinct. The modern moth lacewings have a notably disjunct distribution while the extinct genera had a more global range. The family...
. P. S. Welch conducted research in 1914 on Polystoechotidae larvae resulted in the conclusion that the larvae were carnivorous. Further study has shown the immature Polystoechotidae to be phytophagous
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
. The first instar
Instar
An instar is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each molt , until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or assume a new form. Differences between instars can often be seen in altered body proportions, colors, patterns, or...
stage for modern larvae is a carabaeiform grub.
Range
Modern Polystoechotidae genera are distributed solely in the western hemisphere with two species in the NearcticNearctic
The Nearctic is one of the eight terrestrial ecozones dividing the Earth's land surface.The Nearctic ecozone covers most of North America, including Greenland and the highlands of Mexico...
and two in the Neotropical region. All four species inhabit ares with forested microthermal
Microthermal
In climatology, the term microthermal is used to denote the continental climates of Eurasia and North America.The word microthermal is derived from two Greek words meaning "having little heat." This is misleading, however, since the term is intended to describe only the temperature conditions that...
to lower mesothermal
Mesothermal
In climatology, the term mesothermal is used to refer to certain forms of climate found typically in the Earth's Temperate Zones. It has a moderate amount of heat, with winters not cold enough to sustain snow cover...
climates. Polystoechotes has the widest modern range with P. punctatus inhabiting forests across North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
south along the mountains to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and P. gazullai inhabiting forests in Central Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. The North American range of P. punctatus has diminished, disappearing from eastern North America by the 1950s, and now appears restricted to Western North America. Platystoechotes lineatus, the sole species in Platystoechotes, is restricted in range to the Sierra Nevada mountains in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The remaining modern species Fontecilla graphicus shares habitat with P. gazullai, also inhabiting forests in Central Chile. The paleorange for the family includes sites in western North America such as the Florrisant formation
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is a United States National Monument in Teller County, Colorado, that is noted for its fossils. It is located in a mountain valley just west of Pikes Peak and holds spectacular remnants of prehistoric life...
in Colorado and the Okanagan Highland
Okanagan Highland
The Okanagan Highland is a plateau-like hilly area in British Columbia, Canada, and the U.S. state of Washington . It lies between the Okanagan Valley on its west and the Kettle River on its east, and geologically is more or less an extension of the Thompson Plateau, which lies west of the Okanagan...
sites in Washington, USA and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Species of the genus Palaeopsychops have been found in the Eocene
Eocene
The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...
Fur Formation
Fur Formation
Essentially the Fur Formation is defined as a clayey diatomite with a lage number of volcanic ash layers.The Fur Formation is a marine geological formation of Ypresian age which crops out in the Limfjord region of Denmark from Silstrup via Mors and Fur to Ertebølle, and can be seen in many cliffs...
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and genera from the Jurassic
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
have been found in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
, and Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
showing a wider geographic range then is found in the modern taxa.
Systematics and taxonomy
Along with IthonidaeIthonidae
The Ithonidae or moth lacewings are a small family of winged insects of the insect order Neuroptera. This family contains a total of nine genera, seven living and two extinct. The modern moth lacewings have a notably disjunct distribution while the extinct genera had a more global range. The family...
, Polystoechotidae are regarded as the most primitive living members of Neuroptera. The clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
formed by Polystoechotidae and Ithonidae forms a sister group to the remaining families in the suborder Hemerobiiformia. The mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA is the DNA located in organelles called mitochondria, structures within eukaryotic cells that convert the chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, adenosine triphosphate...
for the species Polystoechotes punctatus was sequenced and the results published in 2009. The genome, consisting of 16,036 base pair
Base pair
In molecular biology and genetics, the linking between two nitrogenous bases on opposite complementary DNA or certain types of RNA strands that are connected via hydrogen bonds is called a base pair...
s shows a large section of over 11,000 base pairs which are noncoding. This region is found widely among members of Neuroptera but not in the close sister orders Raphidioptera or Megaloptera
Megaloptera
Megaloptera is an order of insects. It contains the alderflies, dobsonflies and fishflies, and there are about 300 known species.The Megaloptera were formerly considered part of a group then called Neuroptera, together with lacewings and snakeflies, but these are now generally considered to be...
.