Chrysopidae

Definition

A family of neuropteran insects comprising the green lacewings or common lacewings, characterized by delicate, reticulate wings with dense venation, large golden or copper-colored eyes, and soft green bodies. Adults are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular predators and nectar feeders; larvae are aggressive, aposematically marked generalist predators of aphids, mites, and small soft-bodied arthropods, often called 'aphid lions.' The family contains approximately 85 genera and 1,300–2,000 species globally, with Chrysopa and Chrysoperla among the most frequently encountered genera in North America and Europe.

Etymology

From the type genus Chrysopa (Greek chrysos 'gold' + ops 'eye, face') + -idae (family suffix).

Example

Chrysoperla carnea, a widespread Chrysopidae species, is mass-reared for augmentative biological control of aphids in greenhouse crops; its larvae can consume 100–600 aphids during development.

Synonyms

• Green lacewings
• common lacewings

Related Terms

• Neuroptera
• Chrysopa
• Chrysoperla
• Hemerobiidae
• lacewing
• aphid lion
• Biological control
• reticulate venation

Usage Notes

The vernacular 'lacewing' alone is ambiguous and properly applies to many neuropteran families; 'green lacewing' or 'common lacewing' specifically denotes Chrysopidae. The closely related brown lacewings belong to Hemerobiidae. Taxonomic instability persists between Chrysopa and Chrysoperla, and literature assignments to these genera should be treated cautiously.