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

Distribution

This widespread species is present in most of Europe and in temperate zones of Asia.

Habitat

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

Description

The adults reach 10–12 millimetres (0.39–0.47in) of length, with a wingspan of 25–30 millimetres (0.98–1.18in). 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. The second antennal segment is black. This species is rather similar to Chrysopa dorsalis, showing an oval pale spot between the eyes, which is roundish in C. perla.

Biology

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

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

Gallery

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

Further reading

  • 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.). . pp.–503. doi:. ISBN978-0-12-257305-7.
  • Plant, Colin W. (1994). . ISBN978-1-870393-18-8.
  • Flint, H. M; Salter, S. S; Walters, S (1979). "Caryophyllene: An Attractant for the Green Lacewing". Environmental Entomology. 8 (6): 1123–1125. doi:.
  • 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:. PMID.
  • Bond, Alan B (1980). . Animal Behaviour. 28: 10–19. doi:.
  • 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:. PMID.
  • Knowledge Encyclopedia Animal!. Dorling Kindersley. 2016-10-03. p.45. ISBN978-0-241-28964-8.

External links

  • Media related toChrysopa perlaat Wikimedia Commons
  • Data related toChrysopa perlaat Wikispecies