Chrysoperla lucasina

Chrysoperla lucasina
Chrysoperla cf. lucasina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Hexapoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Neuroptera
Family:	Chrysopidae
Genus:	Chrysoperla
Species:	C. lucasina
Binomial name
Chrysoperla lucasina (Lacroix, 1912)

Chrysoperla lucasina is a species of 'lacewings' belonging to the family Chrysopidae subfamily Chrysopinae.

This species is mainly present in the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, in western Asia and northern Africa.

C. lucasina can be distinguished from other members of the carnea-group of the genus Chrysoperla by subtle and variable morphological attributes, but primarily by its calling and courtship songs.

Adults can be encountered from late Spring through mid-Autumn. Theys are polyphagous, feeding on pollen and nectar of various herbaceous flowering plants (mainly Brassicaceae, Graminaceae, Apiaceae and Asteraceae), as well as in honeydew, preferred diet in Autumn.

After the feeding period they fly near colonies of aphids, where they breed and the females lay eggs. In fact the larvae are fearsome predators on aphids or small arthropods. Consequently these insects are used for biological pest control. The adult insects hibernate in winter.

References

• Colin L. Plant (1994) - Lacewings
• Henry et al. Chrysoperla lucasina (Lacroix): a distinct species of green lacewing, confirmed by acoustical analysis (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) - Systematic Entomology, 1996 - (PDF)
• Villenave et al. - The pollens consumed by Chrysoperla lucasina and Ch. affinis (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) in cabbage crop environment in western of France - European Journal of Entomology
• Villenave et al. - Pollen preference of the Chrysoperla species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) occurring in the crop environment in western France - European Journal of Entomology

External links

• Fauna Europaea