Tuesday, November 17, 2015

A new snakefly: Inocellia indica

Snakeflies are related to lacewings. The adult has a long thorax and is able to raise the head above the rest of the body which gives it the appearance of a snake ready to strike. Their larvae live under the bark of forest, ornamental and fruit trees and can be very helpful predators in fruit orchards as they feed on wood-boring insects, small insects such as aphids and caterpillars, and various insect eggs. Adults also are predaceous and feed on aphids or other small, prey. 

The specific name refers to the geographical distribution of this new species which is currently known only from India.

For the experts: A new species of the snakefly genus Inocellia Schneider, 1843 from northeastern India is described: Inocellia indica sp. nov. The new taxon represents the second species of Raphidioptera from the northeastern part of the Indian Subcontinent and appears to be closely related to I. bhutana Aspöck, Aspöck & Rausch, 1991 from neighboring Bhutan.

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