The Neuropterida, comprising the orders Megaloptera (Dobsonflies, Alderflies), Raphidioptera (Snakeflies) and Neuroptera (=Planipennia) (Lacewings), are considered one of the most basal groups of Holometabola. While numerically small, there is considerable morphological diversity across the ca. 21 families within the group. This diversity has made estimates of homology difficult to reconcile across families, and while the Neuropterida has undergone numerous taxonomic and morphological studies, little progress has been made towards developing an overarching phylogeny. Indeed, Withycombe's 1925 phylogeny of the Neuroptera has served as the basis for our understanding of the evolution of the Neuroptera until very recently. Recent pioneering work by U. Aspöck has proposed a new hypothesis of neuropterid relationships using cladistic methodology. Unfortunately, this study is based on relatively few characters and has left many unanswered questions regarding the position of several key families. A revised phylogeny of the Neuropterida is presented using a greatly expanded set of morphological characters across a more extensive set of exemplars from all families, including selected fossil groups. I also discuss ongoing research on a phylogeny of the Neuropterida using molecular data and its contribution to an eventual total evidence phylogeny.
Species 1: Neuroptera
Species 2: Megaloptera
Species 3: Raphidioptera
Keywords: Neuropterida, Phylogeny
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA