4.

3 Genetics
5 See also
6 References
7 Further reading

Taxonomy and identification

C. areolaris is a small species of spongillafly, with adults a little over 3mm from
head to wingtips,[5] and third instar larvae about 3.7 - 4.3mm in length, jaws
exclusive.[6] Both adults and larvae have been described.[6][7]

Two other species of Climacia are present in the USA,[8] which can be distinguished
by wing patterns among other features. Both an adult and larval key to the three
species exists.[8]
Geographic distribution

C. areolaris is distributed from its northernmost limit in Quebec and Nova Scotia
south through the eastern United States. Its westernmost limit is New Mexico, and
it extends south into Florida as well as the Mexican states of Tamaulipas and San
Luis Potosí.[4]
Habitat

Larvae are found in freshwater streams, ponds, and lakes where suitable populations
of their host sponges reside.[9][10] Adults are terrestrial and can fly.
Biology
Life history
Larva of the related genus Sisyra, showing specialized sucking mouthparts.

Eggs are laid on objects near or overhanging water. Larvae feed on freshwater
sponges,[11] with 6 species of hosts being recorded: Spongilla fragilis, Spongilla
lacustris, Meyenia subdivisa, Heteromeyenia ryderi, Trochospongilla horrida, and T.
leidyi.[12][13] Larvae have long stylet-like mouthparts in the form of the
mandible-maxillary complex like other Neuroptera.[14] These mouthparts are used to
pierce the freshwater sponges and feed on them.[11] Third instar larvae exit the
water and spin intricate nets over themselves before spinning cocoons,[15] pupating
up to 50 feet from shore.[16]

Adult C. areolaris feed on pollen[17] and are attracted to lights.[16][15][18] They

are active from March to December.[19]
Parasitism by other species

C. areolaris is parasitized by the pteromalid wasp Sisyridivora cavigena.[20][21]

S. cavigena parasitizes both the pupal stage and last instar larvae in the process
of pupation.
Genetics

The Y chromosome is present in other representatives of Sisyridae but has been

evolutionarily lost in males of C. areolaris.[22] The cytology has been described
by Hughes-Schrader.[22]
See also

Sisyridae

References

"Climacia areolaris Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved

2019-09-23.
"Climacia areolaris". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
"Climacia areolaris species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
Bowles, David (2006). "Spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) of North America with
a key to the larvae and adults". Zootaxa. 1357(1): 1–19 – via lacewing.tamu.edu.
Brown, Harley P. (1952). "The Life History of Climacia areolaris (Hagen), a
Neuropterous 'Parasite' of Fresh Water Sponges". American Midland Naturalist. 47
(1): 130. doi:10.2307/2421701. ISSN 0003-0031.
Poirrier, Michael A.; Arceneaux, Yvonne M. (1972). "Studies on Southern Sisyridae
(Spongilla-flies) with a Key to the Third-Instar Larvae and Additional Sponge-Host
Records". American Midland Naturalist. 88 (2): 455. doi:10.2307/2424370. ISSN 0003-
0031.
Bowles, David (2006). "Spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) of North America with
a key to the larvae and adults". Zootaxa. 1357(1): 1–19 – via lacewing.tamu.edu.
Bowles, David (2006). "Spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) of North America with
a key to the larvae and adults". Zootaxa. 1357(1): 1–19 – via lacewing.tamu.edu.
Skelton, James; Strand, Mac (2013). "Trophic ecology of a freshwater sponge
(Spongilla lacustris) revealed by stable isotope analysis". Hydrobiologia. 709 (1):
227–235. doi:10.1007/s10750-013-1452-6. ISSN 0018-8158.
Brown, Harley P. (1952). "The Life History of Climacia areolaris (Hagen), a
Neuropterous 'Parasite' of Fresh Water Sponges". American Midland Naturalist. 47
(1): 130. doi:10.2307/2421701. ISSN 0003-0031.
Brown, Harley P. (1952). "The Life History of Climacia areolaris (Hagen), a
Neuropterous 'Parasite' of Fresh Water Sponges". American Midland Naturalist. 47
(1): 130. doi:10.2307/2421701. ISSN 0003-0031.
Skelton, James; Strand, Mac (2013). "Trophic ecology of a freshwater sponge
(Spongilla lacustris) revealed by stable isotope analysis". Hydrobiologia. 709 (1):
227–235. doi:10.1007/s10750-013-1452-6. ISSN 0018-8158.
Poirrier, Michael A. (1969). "Some Fresh-water Sponge Hosts of Louisiana and Texas
Spongilla-Flies, with New Locality Records". The American Midland Naturalist. 81
(2): 573–575. doi:10.2307/2423990. ISSN 0003-0031.
Pupedis, Raymond J. (1980-01-01). "Generic Differences Among New World Spongilla-
Fly Larvae and a Description of the Female of Climacia Striata (Neuroptera:
Sisyridae)". Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 87 (3–4): 305–314.
doi:10.1155/1980/65827. ISSN 0033-2615.
Hughes-Schrader, Sally (1975). "Segregational mechanisms of sex chromosomes in
Spongilla-flies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae)". Chromosoma. 52 (1): 1–10.
doi:10.1007/BF00285784. ISSN 0009-5915.
Brown, Harley P. (1952). "The Life History of Climacia areolaris (Hagen), a
Neuropterous 'Parasite' of Fresh Water Sponges". American Midland Naturalist. 47
(1): 130. doi:10.2307/2421701. ISSN 0003-0031.
Pupedis, Raymond J. (1987-11-01). "Foraging Behavior and Food of Adult Spongila-
Flies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 80
(6): 758–760. doi:10.1093/aesa/80.6.758. ISSN 0013-8746.
Rothfuss, Alyssa H.; Heilveil, Jeffrey S. (2018). "Distribution of Sisyridae and
Freshwater Sponges in the upper-Susquehanna Watershed, Otsego County, New York with
a New Locality for Climacia areolaris (Hagen)". The American Midland Naturalist.
180 (2): 298–305. doi:10.1674/0003-0031-180.2.298. ISSN 0003-0031.
Bowles, David (2006). "Spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) of North America with
a key to the larvae and adults". Zootaxa. 1357(1): 1–19 – via lacewing.tamu.edu.
Pupedis, Raymond J. (1978-09-15). "Tube Feeding by Sisyridivora cavigena
(Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on Climacia areolaris (Neuroptera: Sisyridae)". Annals
of the Entomological Society of America. 71 (5): 773–775.
doi:10.1093/aesa/71.5.773. ISSN 1938-2901.
Brown, Harley P. (1951-03-01). "Climacia Areolaris (Hagen) Parasitized by a New
Pteromalid (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)1". Annals of the Entomological Society of
America. 44 (1): 103–110. doi:10.1093/aesa/44.1.103. ISSN 1938-2901.
Hughes-Schrader, Sally (1975). "Segregational mechanisms of