GENERIC DIFFERENCES AMONG NEW WORLD 
SPONGILLA-FLY LARVAE AND A DESCRIPTION OF 
THE FEMALE OF CLIMACIA STRIATA 
(NEUROPTERA: SISYRIDAE)* 
By Raymond J. Pupedis 
Biological Sciences Group 
University of Connecticut 
Storrs, CT 06268 
Introduction 
While many entomologists are familiar, though probably uncom¬ 
fortable, with the knowledge that the Neuroptera contains numer¬ 
ous dusty demons within its membership (Wheeler, 1930), few 
realize that this condition is balanced by the presence of aquatic 
angels. This rather delightful and appropriate appellation was 
bestowed on a member of the family Sisyridae by Brown (1950) in a 
popular account of his discovery of a sisyrid species in Lake Erie. 
Aside from the promise of possible redemption for some neurop- 
terists, the spongilla-flies are an interesting study from any view¬ 
point. 
If one excludes, as many do, the Megaloptera from the order 
Neuroptera, only the family Sisyridae can be said to possess truly 
aquatic larvae. Despite the reported association of the immature 
stages of the Osmylidae and Neurorthidae with wet environments, 
members of those families seem not to be exclusively aquatic, 
however, much more work remains to be done, especially on the 
neurorthids. The Polystoechotidae, too, were once considered to 
have an aquatic larval stage, but little evidence supports this view 
(Balduf, 1939). 
Although the problem of evolutionary relationships among the 
neuropteran families has been studied many times, the phylogenetic 
position of the Sisyridae remains unclear (Tillyard, 1916; Withy- 
combe, 1925; Adams, 1958; MacLeod, 1964; Shepard, 1967; and 
Gaumont, 1976). Until fairly recently, the family was thought to 
have evolved from an osmylid-like ancestor (Tillyard, 1916; Withy- 
combe, 1925). This theory has been modified by a study of the new 
*Manuscript received by the editor April 30, 1981. 
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