Revision of the Caucasian Myrmeleontoid Lacewings (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae, Ascalaphidae, Nemopteridae) Collection of the Georgian National Museum, Identified By P. Esben-Petersen

Abstract

The present work assesses the Tiflis collection (now the collection of the National Georgian Museum in Tbilisi) of Myrmeleontoid lacewings (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae, Ascalaphidae, Nemopteridae), identified by the remarkable taxonomist Peter Esben-Petersen at the beginning of the 20th century (Esben-Petersen, 1913). We have confirmed most of his determinations, some of which have been updated in modern accepted combinations. Some of the specimens listed in the original publication were not found in the collection, and some specimens belonging to species not described during Petersen’s lifetime were identified or redefined. The total list of 17 described and assigned species in the collection is updated to 20. To facilitate the identification of Caucasian species of the tribe Myrmecaelurini, keys are provided. New synonymy in Nemopteridae established: Lertha palmonii Tjeder, 1970: 219 = Nemoptera extensa Olivier, 1811 [recently Olivierina extensa (Olivier, 1811)] syn. nov.