Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Ceraeochrysa lineaticornis (Fitch, 1855)
Ceraeochrysa stichoptera (Navás, 1914)
Ceraeochrysa columbiana (Banks, 1903)
Ceraeochrysa parvula (Banks, 1903)
Glenochrysa lineaticornis (Fitch, 1855)
Chrysopa stichoptera Navás, 1914
Chrysopa columbiana Banks, 1903
Allochrysa parvula Banks, 1903
Chrysopa puncticornis Fitch, 1855
Orig. comb.: Chrysopa lineaticornis Fitch, 1855
Explanation of Names
Ceraeochrysa lineaticornis (Fitch, 1855)
from the Latin līneātī ('lined, lineated, striped') + New Latin cornīs ('horned')
Identification
Recognizable as a
Ceraeochrysa by the unmarked
genae, longer antennae, narrow wings, and lack of a dark spot in the
pterostigma.
C. lineaticornis is further denoted by the darker bases of the antennae, (usually!) black-striped scapes, pale head, and largely unmarked body.
Variation:
Some specimens (formerly designated as "
columbiana") have entirely green scapes, lacking the usual black stripe. These specimens further approach the coloration of
Chrysopa nigricornis.
(1)(2)
Other specimens may have narrow stripes down the sides of the prothorax. These specimens further approach the coloration of Leucochrysa pavida.
Range
eastern (QC to FL & TX) & BC
(3)
Canada: BC, QC; United States: DC, FL, GA, IN, KS, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NY, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI
Life Cycle
Larvae carry a debris packet of plant trichomes.
See Also
There are several other species known for their contrasting proximally-black antennae (with all but one of the following also having pale heads):
Chrysopa nigricornis has shorter antennae, unmarked antennal scapes, dark spots on the face (typically 1, but if 2 pairs they form a broad "v" on either side of the clypeus), and only very small dark spots toward the anterior of the prothorax.
Leucochrysa pavida has longer antennae, a golden head and regions of the thorax, red stripes on the antennal scapes, a red stripe on the gena, dark stripes on the sides of the prothorax, and conspicuously darkened pterostigmas (characteristic of its genus).
Meleoma signoretti is distinguished by the longer, straight-sided antennal scapes with broad spacing (around the width of each base). The antennae are shorter (comparable to C. nigricornis), the antennal scapes are unmarked, and the face of females has two pairs of dark spots on the fons (forming somewhat of a "ʌ"). The males have a distinctive protrusion from between the antennae (2nd photo), and the face is broadly black-marked.
Print References
Fitch, Asa. 1865 First and second report on the noxious, beneficial, and other insects of the state of New-York. Transactions of the New York State Agricultural Society, 14:
91-92
