Analysis of anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE) data under a variety of analytical parameters for a broadly representative sample of taxa (136 species representing all extant families) recovered a well‐resolved and strongly supported tree for the higher phylogeny of Neuropterida that is highly concordant with previous estimates based on DNA sequence data. Important conclusions include: Megaloptera is sister to Neuroptera; Coniopterygidae is sister to all other lacewings; Osmylidae, Nevrorthidae and Sisyridae are recovered as a monophyletic Osmyloidea, and Rhachiberothidae and Berothidae were recovered within a paraphyletic Mantispidae. Contrary to previous studies, Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae were not recovered as sister families and morphological similarities between larvae of both families supporting this assumption are reinterpreted as symplesiomorphies. Relationships among myrmeleontoid families are similar to recent studies except Ithonidae are placed as sister to Nymphidae. Notably, Ascalaphidae render Myrmeleontidae paraphyletic, again calling into question the status of Ascalaphidae as a separate family. Using statistical binning of partitioned loci based on a branch‐length proxy, we found that the diversity of phylogenetic signal across partitions was minimal from the slowest to the fastest evolving loci and varied little over time. Ancestral character‐state reconstruction of the sclerotization of the gular region in the larval head found that although it is present in Coleoptera, Raphidioptera and Megaloptera, it is lost early in lacewing evolution and then regained twice as a nonhomologous gula‐like sclerite in distantly related clades. Reconstruction of the ancestral larval habitat also indicates that the ancestral neuropteridan larva was aquatic, regardless of the assumed condition (i.e., aquatic or terrestrial) of the outgroup (Coleopterida).

This study focused on Mantispidae species (Neuroptera) from Tocantins state in Brazil. Herein we provide nine new records to this state, increasing the total number of mantidflies from Tocantins to 12. New records are as following: Anchieta fumosella (Westwood, 1867); Dicromantispa moulti (Navás, 1909); Entanoneura batesella (Westwood, 1867); Haematomantispa sp.; Leptomantispa chaos Hoffman, 2002; Plega hagenella (Westwood, 1867); Trichoscelia varia (Walker, 1853); Zeugomantispa compellens (Walker, 1860); Z. virescens (Rambur, 1842). We also provide the first list of Mantispidae species from Tocantins, including general notes for each one, and identification key for these species.

Species of the thorny lacewing subfamily Symphrasinae (Neuroptera: Rhachiberothidae) are revised. Prior to this work, 42 species were known in the genera Anchieta Navás, 1909, Plega Navás, 1928, and Trichoscelia Westwood, 1852. Herein, the number of species is increased to 60, 23 of which are newly described. Species previously known are redescribed, and their taxonomic status is revised. Keys, diagnoses, and high-resolution images for all species are presented. The distribution range of Anchieta is now known from Costa Rica to southern Brazil with a total of 11 species, of which three are newly described. The genus Plega is known from southwestern United States to southern Brazil and includes 28 species of which 14 are described as new. Moreover, the genus Trichoscelia occurs from central and southern Mexico to Argentina, with a total of 21 species, of which six are herein newly described. A phylogenetic analysis of Symphrasinae based on morphological characters recovered the three symphrasine genera as monophyletic, with Anchieta sister to Plega + Trichoscelia. The three genera are newly diagnosed based on a cladistic framework. Within the genus Anchieta, bee-mimicking species comprise a monophyletic group, while wasp-mimicking species form a laddered sequence to that lineage. Within Plega, three lineages are recovered, the first mostly composed of South and Mesoamerican species, the second with species predominantly from Central America and central and southern Mexico, and a third clade encompassing species mostly from central and northern Mexico and southwestern United States. By contrast, relationships between species of Trichoscelia were poorly resolved because of a simplified and conserved morphology of this group.

The PROFAUPAR project (1986–1987) studied insect diversity in the Atlantic rainforest through collections made at eight different sites in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Here, we review and identify the collected neuropterans, carry out a bibliographic review, and compose a list of the Neuroptera species that occur in the state. This study includes 14 new records in Paraná, including the first records of Ascalaphinae (Myrmeleontidae) and a new record of Dilaridae for Brazil. It increases by 29.2% the number of species of Neuroptera known from Paraná. Forty-seven Neuroptera species are now known to occur in the state.

A new species of Trichoscelia Westwood (Mantispidae: Symphrasinae) is described herein, T. geraldoi n. sp. This is the 16th species classified within the genus and presents a quite unusual body color pattern for the group. A key for the South American species of Trichoscelia and a checklist of the Symphrasinae species are presented.