Chrysopa perla, the Pearly Green Lacewing,[2] is an insect species belonging to the green lacewing family, Chrysopidae (subfamily Chrysopinae).

Chrysopa perla
Near Havelsee, Germany
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Neuroptera
Family: Chrysopidae
Genus: Chrysopa
Species:
C. perla
Binomial name
Chrysopa perla
Synonyms[1]
List
  • Aeolops perla (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Aeolops viridis (Retzius, 1783)
  • Chrysopa cancellata (Schrank, 1802)
  • Chrysopa chrysops (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Chrysopa divisa Navás, 1910
  • Chrysopa elongata Lacroix, 1916
  • Chrysopa fallax Navás, 1914
  • Chrysopa nigrodorsalis Pongrácz, 1912
  • Chrysopa nothochrysiformis Lacroix, 1915
  • Chrysopa reticulata Curtis, 1834
  • Cintameva nothochrysodes Navás, 1936
  • Cintameva perla (Linnaeus, 1758) Emerobius chrysops (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Hemerobius cancellatus Schrank, 1802
  • Hemerobius chrysops Linnaeus, 1758
  • Hemerobius perla Linnaeus, 1758 Hemerobius reticulatus (Leach in Brewster, 1815)
  • Hemerobius viridis Retzius, 1783
  • Osmylus chrysops (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution

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This widespread species is present in most of Europe[3] and in temperate zones of Asia.[4][5]

Habitat

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These insects prefer cool and shady areas, mainly in deciduous woods, wet forests, woodland edges, hedge rows, scrubby grassland and shrubs.[6][4]

Description

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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).[5][6] 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.[5] The second antennal segment is black.[4] This species is rather similar to Chrysopa dorsalis, showing an oval pale spot between the eyes, which is roundish in C. perla.[4]

Biology

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Adults can be encountered from May through August.[6] They are fearsome predators, primarily feeding on aphids,[5] occasionally on flower nectar.[4]

The females usually lay eggs near aphid colonies.[5] Larvae are predators, mainly feeding on Aphididae, Coccidae species and caterpillars (Pieris brassicae, Autographa gamma).[6] The adult insects hibernate in winter.[5]

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References

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  1. ^ Catalogue of the world
  2. ^ "Pearly Green Lacewing". Landscape Britain. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  3. ^ Fauna europaea
  4. ^ a b c d e Nature Spot
  5. ^ a b c d e f Insektenbox (in German)
  6. ^ a b c d J.K. Lindsey Commanster Archived 2018-10-09 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading

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