Chrysopidae

Morphology

The adults are elongate, around 20 mm, and show different characteristics:

- color: varies from brown to bright green,
- eyes: protruding and golden,
- antennae: long and filiform with numerous segments, not reaching beyond length of wings,
- mouthparts: grinding type (the larva possesses hooks formed by the combination of mandibles and maxillae which between them fashion a salivary canal. The saliva injected into the prey allows preliminary digestion of tissues before being sucked up).
- wings: hyaline, traversed by a network of veins delimiting hexagonal cells. At rest they are set roof-like on the abdomen.

Biology

All the species produce two or three generations per year. The female can lay several hundred eggs in 2 or 3 months. They are fixed on the vegetation by a fine peduncle (8-10 mm) either individually or in a group. The larva is highly active and a formidable predator and can consume up to 500 aphids in the course of its development. Metamorphosis takes place in a white cocoon. In some species, the adults feed on living prey, but most eat honeydew and pollen. Overwintering proceeds in the adult (Chrysoperla) or pre-nymphal stage (Chrysopa).

Diet

They are generalist predators at every stage (Chrysopa) or only at the larval stage (Chrysoperla). The larvae move around on or under the leaves searching for food.

Identification

Distinguishing between the genera Chrysopa and Chrysoperla is difficult. However, certain species of Chrysopa are marked with black (head, pronotum and wing veins) whereas Chrysoperla or common lacewings are completely green (at least in summer); eyes golden metallic.

Some species :

• Chrysopa perla
• Chrysoperla carnea
• Chrysoperla lucasina
• Nineta spp
• Dichochrysa flavifrons