First record of the lacewing species Croce filipennis (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae) and its family from Bangladesh based on morphological and molecular identification

Abstract Neuropterans are a small group of insects which have the potential of being used as agents of biological pest control, and as insect research models of longer life cycles. Despite over three hundred recorded species of Neuropterans from the Indian subcontinent, this group remains poorly studied in Bangladesh. In this study, the first occurrence of the species Croce filipennis (Westwood) (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae) and its family Nemopteridae have been reported from Bangladesh. The specimens were identified morphologically and to facilitate future identification of the species, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 ( COX1 ) gene was sequenced partially and analyzed. The sequenced region of the COX1 gene is 676 bp long (NCBI Genbank Accession no. OR250776). A molecular phylogenetic tree has been constructed to get insights into its relationship with other members of the order Neuroptera. Extensive surveys and collections of this group of insects are required to ascertain species and genetic diversity in this region.