A Review of the Genus Mallada in the United States and Canada, With a New Species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Analysis of the Canadian chrysopid fauna (Garland, 1981) revealed an undescribed species of Mallada ranging into southern Ontario. Accordingly, a draft description and illustrations were transmitted to the senior author. As few of our species have been given modern redescriptions, it is appropriate to review the status of all four known members of this genus from the U.S. and Canada. The taxonomic status of Mallada was discussed by Adams 1975, and a detailed treatment of genitalic morphology given by Principi 1977. The genus is characterized by: left mandible toothed, inner gradate crossvein of forewing ending in a branch of radial sector, not on pseudomedia (Fig. 20); pseudomedia not comprising any crossveins; micropoculae or cuticular glands present on male pronoturn, microtholi absent, tignum and gonapsis present, arcessus normal; ectoprocts and hypovalva (eighth and ninth sternites) without unusual projections, larva trash-carrying and overwintering (Skmkria, 1977). Mallada is primarily an Old World genus, constituting a major part of the chrysopid fauna of Europe, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Although New 1980 does not subdivide the Australian "Chrysopa" into genera, or species groups, it is possible tentatively to assign species on data given; 15 of the 47 species of Chrysopinae fall into Mallada. Tjeder 1966 points out that 19 of the 39 African "chrysopas" (Saurius + Glenochrysa + Chrysoperia + Brinckochrysa + Aperrochrysa + Anisochrysa) are assignable to Anisochrysa (i.e., Mallada), and places 22 additional Old World species in that taxon. Aspock et al. 1980 list 15 European Mallada species (as Anisochrysa). In the New World, there are only 5 known species, M. (Triadochrysa) triangularis Adams 1978 from Mexico, and the other North American species discussed below.