Species Chrysopa chi - X-marked Green Lacewing

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Identification · Range · Season · Works Cited

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies)

Suborder Hemerobiiformia (Lacewings and Allies)

Family Chrysopidae (Green Lacewings)

Subfamily Chrysopinae (Typical Green Lacewings)

Tribe Chrysopini

Genus Chrysopa (Stink Lacewings)

Species chi (X-marked Green Lacewing)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Chrysopa upsilon (Fitch, 1855)

Chrysopa ypsilon [!] (Fitch, 1855)

Explanation of Names

Chrysopa chi Fitch 1855

chi = the Latin transcription of the Greek letter Χχ ('chi'), which is often romanized as the English letter Xx. This is in reference to the x-shaped mark on the head.

Identification

Adults

Wing venation separates Chrysopa from similar Chrysoperla. C. chi has an X-shaped mark between the antennal bases, two spots on top of head, and pronotum with 3 pairs of dark spots.

Larvae

The head capsule is marked with 3 spots, much like C. nigricornis and C. oculata. Within the eastern extent of its range, C. chi is separated from other members of the genus by the darkened set of lateral tubercles on the thorax and entirely pale abdominal tubercles. In C. nigricornis, the abdominal tubercles are tinged with red. Additionally, C. chi has no lateral tubercles on the first abdominal segment, as opposed to small lateral tubercles in C. nigricornis.(1)

Range

across Canada and n. US south to TN(2)

Season

An 'early' species: adults fly probably in April or May(3)

Works Cited

1.	The Biology of the Chrysopidae Roger Cletus Smith. 1922. Memoirs of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, 58: 1232-1372.

2.	Species catalog of the Neuroptera, Megaloptera, and Raphidioptera of America North of Mexico Penny N.D., Adams P.A., Stange L.A. 1997. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 50: 39‒114.

3.	University of Alberta Entomology Collection

Contributed by Brad Barnd on 15 July, 2007 - 12:49am
Additional contributions by v belov, PaleoJon
Last updated 25 November, 2022 - 3:46pm

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