Two new endemic species of Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) from the Galapagos Islands

Two new species that were previously undistinguished from the Galapagos endemic Chrysopodes (Neosuarius) nigripilosus (Banks), are described. These descriptions double, from two to four, the number of endemic green lacewing species known from the archipelago. The four species include: Chrysoperla galapagoensis (Banks), Chrysopodes (N.) nigricubitus sp. n.; C. (N.) nigripilosus; and C. (N.) pecki sp. n. Three of these species – C. (N.) nigripilosus, C. (N.) nigricubitus and Chrysoperla galapagoensis – each occur on more than one island, whereas C. (N.) pecki is known only from the summits of two craters on Isabela Island. A suite of very distinctive features differentiates the three Galapagos Chrysopodes (N.) species from their congeners on mainland South America. Subtle, but consistent characteristics separate the three Galapagos species from each other. The small degree of morphological divergence among the Galapagos lacewings is in marked contrast to the spectacular radiation of Hawaiian lacewings; the processes of diversification and speciation may differ significantly between the two island archipelagos