Nothochrysa californica

Banks, 1892

San Francisco lacewing

Nothochrysa californica, commonly known as the San Francisco , is a of green lacewing in the Chrysopidae. It is native to North America and was first described by Nathan Banks in 1892. The species is part of a of large lacewings distinguished from typical green lacewings (Chrysoperla) by morphological features.

Nothochrysa californica by no rights reserved, uploaded by Alex Heyman. Used under a CC0 license.

Nothochrysa californica 2387 by Walter Siegmund (talk). Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Nothochrysa californica: /nɒˈθɒkrɪsə ˌkæləˈfɔrnɪkə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Members of the Nothochrysa are generally larger than typical green lacewings (Chrysoperla spp.) and can be distinguished by wing venation patterns and genitalic structures. Specific identification of N. californica requires examination of these features; the name refers to its California type locality.

Images

Distribution

North America. The name indicates California as the type locality, though the full range extends beyond this region.

Ecological Role

As a member of Chrysopidae, this likely functions as a of soft-bodied arthropods including aphids, mites, and small caterpillars, though specific ecological studies for N. californica are not documented in the provided sources.

Similar Taxa

Chrysoperla spp.Typical green lacewings are smaller and differ in wing venation and genitalic ; Nothochrysa are generally larger and more robust.
Other Nothochrysa speciesCongeneric share the large body size and general ; precise identification requires detailed examination of wing venation and reproductive structures.

More Details

Taxonomic note

The Nothochrysa represents a distinct lineage within Chrysopidae, sometimes called 'large lacewings,' separated from the more commonly encountered Chrysoperla based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence.