Climacia areolaris explained

Climacia areolaris is a species of spongillafly in the family Sisyridae. It is found in Canada, United States, and Mexico.

Taxonomy and identification

C. areolaris is a small species of spongillafly, with adults a little over 3mm from head to wingtips,[1] and third instar larvae about 3.7–4.3mm in length, jaws exclusive.[2] Both adults and larvae have been described.[3]

Two other species of Climacia are present in the US,[3] which can be distinguished by wing patterns among other features. Both an adult and larval key to the three species exists.[3]

Geographic distribution

C. areolaris is distributed from its northernmost limit in Quebec and Nova Scotia south through the eastern United States. Its westernmost limit is New Mexico, and it extends south into Florida as well as the Mexican states of Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí.[3]

Habitat

Larvae are found in freshwater streams, ponds, and lakes where suitable populations of their host sponges reside.[4] [1] Adults are terrestrial and can fly.

Biology

Life history

Eggs are laid on objects near or overhanging water. Larvae feed on freshwater sponges,[1] with 6 species of hosts being recorded: Spongilla fragilis, Spongilla lacustris, Meyenia subdivisa, Heteromeyenia ryderi, Trochospongilla horrida, and T. leidyi.[4] [5] Larvae have long stylet-like mouthparts in the form of the mandible-maxillary complex like other Neuroptera.[6] These mouthparts are used to pierce the freshwater sponges and feed on them.[1] Third instar larvae exit the water and spin intricate nets over themselves before spinning cocoons,[7] pupating up to 50 feet from shore.[1]

Adult C. areolaris feed on pollen[8] and are attracted to lights.[7] [9] They are active from March to December.[3]

Parasitism by other species

C. areolaris is parasitized by the pteromalid wasp Sisyridivora cavigena.[10] [11] S. cavigena parasitizes both the pupal stage and last instar larvae in the process of pupation.

Genetics

The Y chromosome is present in other representatives of Sisyridae but has been evolutionarily lost in males of C. areolaris.[7] The cytology has been described by Hughes-Schrader.

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Brown. Harley P.. 1952. The Life History of Climacia areolaris (Hagen), a Neuropterous 'Parasite' of Fresh Water Sponges. American Midland Naturalist. 47. 1. 130–160. 10.2307/2421701. 2421701. 0003-0031.
  2. Poirrier. Michael A.. Arceneaux. Yvonne M.. 1972. Studies on Southern Sisyridae (Spongilla-flies) with a Key to the Third-Instar Larvae and Additional Sponge-Host Records. American Midland Naturalist. 88. 2. 455. 10.2307/2424370. 2424370. 0003-0031.
  3. Bowles. David. 2006. Spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) of North America with a key to the larvae and adults. Zootaxa. 1357. 1. 1–19. lacewing.tamu.edu.
  4. Skelton. James. Strand. Mac. 2013. Trophic ecology of a freshwater sponge (Spongilla lacustris) revealed by stable isotope analysis. Hydrobiologia. en. 709. 1. 227–235. 10.1007/s10750-013-1452-6. 833344. 0018-8158.
  5. Poirrier. Michael A.. 1969. Some Fresh-water Sponge Hosts of Louisiana and Texas Spongilla-Flies, with New Locality Records. The American Midland Naturalist. 81. 2. 573–575. 10.2307/2423990. 2423990. 0003-0031.
  6. Pupedis. Raymond J.. 1980-01-01. Generic Differences Among New World Spongilla-Fly Larvae and a Description of the Female of Climacia Striata (Neuroptera: Sisyridae). Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. en. 87. 3–4. 305–314. 10.1155/1980/65827. 0033-2615. free.
  7. Hughes-Schrader. Sally. 1975. Segregational mechanisms of sex chromosomes in Spongilla-flies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae). Chromosoma. en. 52. 1. 1–10. 10.1007/BF00285784. 1175454. 5884544. 0009-5915.
  8. Pupedis. Raymond J.. 1987-11-01. Foraging Behavior and Food of Adult Spongila-Flies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. en. 80. 6. 758–760. 10.1093/aesa/80.6.758. 0013-8746.
  9. Rothfuss. Alyssa H.. Heilveil. Jeffrey S.. 2018. Distribution of Sisyridae and Freshwater Sponges in the upper-Susquehanna Watershed, Otsego County, New York with a New Locality for Climacia areolaris (Hagen). The American Midland Naturalist. en. 180. 2. 298–305. 10.1674/0003-0031-180.2.298. 92021314. 0003-0031.
  10. Pupedis. Raymond J.. 1978-09-15. Tube Feeding by Sisyridivora cavigena (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on Climacia areolaris (Neuroptera: Sisyridae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 71. 5. 773–775. 10.1093/aesa/71.5.773. 1938-2901.
  11. Brown. Harley P.. 1951-03-01. Climacia Areolaris (Hagen) Parasitized by a New Pteromalid (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)1. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 44. 1. 103–110. 10.1093/aesa/44.1.103. 1938-2901.

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