Phylogeny and historical biogeography of silky lacewings (Neuroptera: Psychopsidae)

Psychopsidae (silky winged lacewings) are a small family of N europtera characterized by broad hirsute wings that impart a physical resemblance to moths. The fossil record includes many psychopsid‐like taxa from the L ate T riassic to E arly O ligocene from all major continents. Extant species have a disjunct, tripartite distribution comprising A frotropical, Southeast A sian and A ustralian regions that is significant to historical biogeography. Two subfamilies are currently recognized: Z ygophlebiinae in the A frotropics, and P sychopsinae in A ustralia and Southeast A sia. This study explores phylogeny and historical biogeography of P sychopsidae, using data from biogeography, comparative morphology and molecular sequences (16S , 18S , CAD , COI ). Our results show that: (i) the morphological phylogeny is incongruent with molecular data; (ii) A frotropical S ilveira N avás represent a separate lineage that warrants placement in its own subfamily; (iii) the family originated in P angea; and (iv) the present genus level distribution resulted from two vicariance events associated with G ondwanan fragmentation.