Mallada basalis is a species of green lacewing in the family Chrysopidae,[12] first described by Francis Walker in 1853.[11] No subspecies are listed in the Catalog of Life.[13] The species was detected on mainland New Zealand in the 2010s.

Mallada basalis
Mallada basalis from New Zealand
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Neuroptera
Family: Chrysopidae
Genus: Mallada
Species:
M. basalis
Binomial name
Mallada basalis
Walker, 1853
Synonyms

Description and ecology

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Mallada basalis in Auckland (2020).

Mallada basalis has a length of 10–15 mm, and typically has a pale green colour.[12] Its translucent, veined wings are iridescent in natural sunlight.[12] Specimens can be identified by a green pterostigma present in the hind wings that is not present in Chrysopidae of a similar appearance.[12]

Distribution and habitat

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Mallada basalis has been identified on the Eastern states of Australia, the Philippines, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, Micronesia and Polynesia (including an outlier population on Easter Island).[12] Mallada basalis has been seen living in both suburban and native flora environments.[12]

The first confirmed sighting of Mallada basalis in New Zealand was in 1940 on the Kermadec Islands, though evidence of the species may go back as far as 1908.[14] In 2010, a specimen was identified on Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf, and the first specimen in Auckland was identified in 2016.[12] By 2020, Mallada basalis was present across the Auckland and Northland Regions.[12] As of 2020, it is unclear if this species self-introduced to New Zealand, or if it was introduced due to human activity.[12] The impact of this species on New Zealand is currently unknown. No native Chrysopidae species have been previously described from mainland New Zealand; their presence may control agricultural pests such as aphids and mealybugs, or pose a risk to native insect life.[12] Many lacewing species were imported to New Zealand between the 1920s and 1970s, however none successfully established populations in the country.[15]

References

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  1. ^ Nakahara, W. (1955) "New Chrysopidae from Formosa." Kontyû 23:143–147.
  2. ^ Navás, L. (1935) "Neurópteros exóticos." 2.a serie., Memorias de la Real Academia de Ciencias y Artes de Barcelona (3)25:37-–59.
  3. ^ a b Navás, L. (1927) "Insecta orientalia." V Series., Memorie dell'Accademia Pontifica dei Nuovi Lincei, Rome (2)10:11–26.
  4. ^ Navás, L. (1924) "Comunicaciones entomológicas. 7. Neurópteros del Museo de Berlín.", Revista de la [Real] Academia de Ciencias Exactas Fisico-Quimicas y Naturales de Zaragoza (1)9:20–34.
  5. ^ Esben-Petersen, P. (1921–1940) "More Neuroptera from Juan Fernandez and Easter Island." Pp. 309–313 in The Natural History of Juan Fernandez and Easter Island, C. Skottsberg, ed. Vol. 3. Almqvist and Wiksells, Uppsala.
  6. ^ Banks, N. (1913) "On a collection of neuropteroid insects from the Philippine Islands"., Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 15:170–180.
  7. ^ Esben-Petersen, P. (1913) "H. Sauter's Formosa-Ausbeute. Planipennia II, Megaloptera and Mecoptera", Entomologische Mitteilungen 2:222–228, 257–265.
  8. ^ a b Banks, N. (1910) "Some Neuroptera from Australia.", Psyche 17:99–105.
  9. ^ Navás, L. (1910) "Névroptères nouveaux de l'Orient.", Revue Russe d'Entomologie [=Russkoe Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie] 10:190–194.
  10. ^ McLachlan, R. (1883) "Neuroptera of the Hawaiian Islands – Part II. Planipennia, with general summary.", Annals and Magazine of Natural History (5)12:298–303.
  11. ^ a b Walker, F. (1853) List of the specimens of neuropterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part II.—(Sialides–Nemopterides). British Museum, London.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Early, John W. (2019). "Establishment of the green lacewing Mallada basalis (Walker, 1853) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on mainland New Zealand". Records of the Auckland Museum. 54: 81–86. doi:10.32912/RAM.2019.54.5. ISSN 1174-9202. JSTOR 26850638. Wikidata Q104814756.
  13. ^ Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R., Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Ouvrard D. (red.). "Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 11 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Wise, K. A. J. (1972). "Neuroptera of the Kermadec Islands". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 9: 269–272. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906185. OCLC 9986845768. Wikidata Q58676929.
  15. ^ Wise, K. A. J. (1995). "Records Concerning Biological Control of Insect Pests by Neuropteroidea (Insecta) in New Zealand". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 32: 101–117. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906455. OCLC 947969039. Wikidata Q58677493.