Chrysopa perla

Chrysopa perla is an insect species belonging to the green lacewing family, Chrysopidae (subfamily Chrysopinae).

Chrysopa perla
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Neuroptera
Family: Chrysopidae
Genus: Chrysopa
Species:
C. perla
Binomial name
Chrysopa perla
Synonyms[1]

Distribution

This widespread species is present in most of Europe[2] and in temperate zones of Asia.[3][4]

Habitat

These insects prefer cool and shady areas, mainly in deciduous woods, wet forests, woodland edges, hedge rows, scrubby grassland and shrubs.[5][3]

Description

The adults reach 10–12 millimetres (0.39–0.47 in) of length, with a wingspan of 25–30 millimetres (0.98–1.18 in).[4][5] The basic coloration of the body is green. Wings are blue-green with black veins. They turn pale yellow during the winter. Several black markings are present on the head, the thorax and below the abdomen.[4] The second antennal segment is black.[3] This species is rather similar to Chrysopa dorsalis, showing an oval pale spot between the eyes, which is roundish in C. perla.[3]

Biology

Adults can be encountered from May through August.[5] They are fearsome predators, primarily feeding on aphids,[4] occasionally on flower nectar.[3]

The females usually lay eggs near aphid colonies.[4] Larvae are predators, mainly feeding on Aphididae, Coccidae species and caterpillars (Pieris brassicae, Autographa gamma).[5] The adult insects hibernate in winter.[4]

  • Dorsal view
  • Female. Side view
  • Wing detail
  • Eating aphids

References
  1. Catalogue of the world
  2. Fauna europaea
  3. Nature Spot
  4. Insektenbox (in German)
  5. J.K. Lindsey Commanster Archived 2018-10-09 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading
  • Chrysopa perla p. 417 in Hagen, K.S; Mills, N.J; Gordh, G; McMurtry, J.A (1999). "Terrestrial Arthropod Predators of Insect and Mite Pests". In Bellows, Thomas S.; Fisher, T.W. (eds.). Handbook of Biological Control. pp. 383–503. doi:10.1016/B978-012257305-7/50063-1. ISBN 978-0-12-257305-7.
  • Plant, Colin W. (1994). Provisional atlas of the lacewings and allied insects (Neuroptera, Megaloptera, Raphidioptera and Mecoptera) of Britain and Ireland. ISBN 978-1-870393-18-8.
  • Flint, H. M; Salter, S. S; Walters, S (1979). "Caryophyllene: An Attractant for the Green Lacewing". Environmental Entomology. 8 (6): 1123–1125. doi:10.1093/ee/8.6.1123.
  • James, David G (2003). "Field Evaluation of Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles as Attractants for Beneficial Insects: Methyl Salicylate and the Green Lacewing, Chrysopa nigricornis". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 29 (7): 1601–1609. doi:10.1023/A:1024270713493. PMID 12921438.
  • Bond, Alan B (1980). "Optimal foraging in a uniform habitat: The search mechanism of the green lacewing". Animal Behaviour. 28: 10–19. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(80)80003-0.
  • Romeis, Jörg; Dutton, Anna; Bigler, Franz (2004). "Bacillus thuringiensis toxin (Cry1Ab) has no direct effect on larvae of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)". Journal of Insect Physiology. 50 (2–3): 175–183. doi:10.1016/j.jinsphys.2003.11.004. PMID 15019519.
  • Knowledge Encyclopedia Animal!. Dorling Kindersley. 2016-10-03. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-241-28964-8.
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