The Neotropical antlion genus Ameromyia Banks, 1913 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), systematics and redefinition under a phylogenetic approach

Abstract

A taxonomic revision and the first phylogenetic hypothesis of the Neotropical genus Ameromyia Banks (Myrmeleontidae: Brachynemurini) is herein presented. The phylogeny is based on 45 morphological characters and recovered the traditional Ameromyia as paraphyletic in respect to the monotypic genus Venezueleon Stange, which is here synonymized under Ameromyia. Three species are synonymized (A. hirsuta Navás and A. stevensi Navás under A. nigriventris (Walker), and A. pentheri Navás under A. strigosa (Banks)) and two new species are described (A. clepsydrasp. nov. and A. explicatasp. nov.). Ameromyia sensu novo is a valid genus with 12 species restricted to South America, and divided into two species groups. Taxonomic keys are also presented to adults and larvae, as well as a discussion on the genus biology.