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Issue: Vol. 2 No. 4: December 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-12-31
DOI: 10.11646/mesozoic.2.4.4
Page range: 313–328
Abstract views: 64
PDF downloaded: 33

A revision of the Cretaceous antlion subfamily Pseudonymphinae (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) highlights the complicated taxonomy of Blittersdorffia Martins-Neto & Vulcano

Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil
Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Departamento de Zoologia, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil
Neuroptera Myrmeleontidae Antlions Fossil insects Crato Formation new species

Abstract

The Crato Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Brazil) represents one of the most significant fossil deposits for unravelling the early evolutionary history of Myrmeleontoidea (Neuroptera). This study provides a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the problematic subfamily “Pseudonymphinae”, which includes the genera Pseudonymphes Martins-Neto & Vulcano, Bleyeria Martins-Neto, and Blittersdorffia Martins-Neto & Vulcano. With access to previously unavailable holotypes and new material, we reassess these genera, refine their diagnoses, and resolve long-standing ambiguities. We propose Pseudonymphes araripensis Martins-Neto & Vulcano as the valid name, designating P. ponomarenkoi Martins-Neto and P. brunherottae Martins-Neto as junior synonyms, thereby reducing species overestimation in Pseudonymphes. We reinterpret the wing venation of Bleyeria nordestina Martins-Neto and describe Blittersdorffia vulcanoae sp. nov., highlighting the generic polyphyletic character and its taxonomic challenges. Our findings confirm that Pseudonymphinae, as traditionally defined, is not monophyletic and highlight the need for a simpler, more stable taxonomic framework for Crato Formation fossil Myrmeleontidae. This revision establishes a foundation for future phylogenetic analyses and advances our understanding of the diversity and evolutionary relationships of early antlion lineages.

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