| The 105 species names previously assigned to the Mantispinae (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) of North, Central, and South America are evaluated based on approximately 6000 specimens borrowed from 50 institutional and private collections. Species are newly defined by using previously understudied characters, such as male and female terminalia, and by using newly discovered characters, such as pterothoracic scutellar pores, male pregenital abdominal pores, and male eversible intertergal membranes. Twenty-seven previously described names are recognized as valid; 56 names are considered junior synonyms, 33 of which are newly proposed; 17 names are considered nomina dubia; 3 are considered nomina nuda; 2 names are excluded from the New World fauna; and 15 new species are described. The genus-group name Neoclimaciella is considered a nomen nudum, and the genera Mantispa, Mantispilla, and Perlamantispa are excluded from the New World fauna. The phylogenetic relationships of the 42 species recognized as occurring in the New World are analyzed using PAUP Version 3.0e, which groups them into nine species groups. Climaciella, Entanoneura, and Paramantispa are retained as New World genera; Buyda is reevaluated and newly assigned to the New World fauna; and five new genera are described. Keys are provided for the identification of adults of all New World species, and a key is provided for the larvae and pupae of genera. |
