Chrysopa perla

Chrysopa perla
Chrysopa perla, dorsal view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Hexapoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Neuroptera
Family:	Chrysopidae
Genus:	Chrysopa
Species:	C. perla
Binomial name
Chrysopa perla (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chrysopa perla, the 'Green Lacewing ', is a species belonging to the family Chrysopidae subfamily Chrysopinae. This widespread species is present in most of Europe.

Chrysopa perla, female

Chrysopa perla

The adults reach 10–12 millimetres (0.39–0.47 in) of length, with a wingspan of 25–30 millimetres (0.98–1.2 in) and are fearsome predators, primarily feeding on aphids, occasionally on flower nectar. They can be encountered from May through August in cool and shady areas, mainly in deciduous woods, woodland edges and shrubs.

The basic coloration of the body is green. Wings are blue-green with black veins. Several black markings are present on the head, the thorax and below the abdomen.

The females usually lay eggs near aphid colonies. Also larvae are predators, mainly feeding on Aphididae and Coccidae species. The adult insects hibernate in winter.

References

• J.K. Lindsey - Commanster
• T. S. Bellows, T. W. Fisher - Handbook of biological control: principles and applications of biological control - Academic Press, 1999 - Technology & Engineering
• Colin L. Plant (1994) - Lacewings

External links

• Fauna Europaea
• Biolib
• Uniprot
• Insektenbox
• Kielo.luomus