Rediscovery and redescription of Pulchroptilonia espatifata Martins-Neto, 1997 (Neuroptera): Psychopsidae or Osmylopsychopidae?

Pulchroptilonia espatifata Martins-Neto, 1997, from the Crato Formation in Brazil, is the sole species of its genus and is herein redescribed based on its recently rediscovered holotype. The specimen provided an opportunity to re-evaluate characters from the original description and identify new ones. Pulchroptilonia Martins-Neto, 1997, shares wing characters with Psychopsidae – Sc and RA connected by an a distal crossvein, crossveins distributed in the subcostal area, and a straight distal part of RA that is not curved backward – as well as with Osmylopsychopsidae, including the markedly narrowed costal area from base to apex. Despite the newly observed characters, it is still not possible to confidently assign this genus to either of the two families. Therefore, we consider that, for the time being, the genus should be maintained in its original family of description until new material and additional characters become available. Herein, we present high-resolution images of this species, the main characters that separate it from the other Brazilian species of Psychopsidae – Putzneura parcimoniosa Martins-Neto & Rodriguez, 2010 – and an updated list of fossil species of Psychopsidae and Osmylopsychopidae.