Green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) are important predators in several agroecosystems. Chrysopids are difficult to identify and even at the generic level, study of the genitalia is often required and identification of chrysopids is best left to an expert. A brief account of the common Indian species employed in augmentative control is given below.
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Chrysoperla
sp. (carnea-group)
Chrysoperla carnea has been considered a complex of several cryptic species and the species commonly referred to as C. carnea in Indian literature and sold under that name by Indian insectaries is not the true C. carnea at all. In Europe and North America, several new cryptic / sibling species in the C. carnea group have been characterized mainly based on mating song / courtship signals, in conjunction with morphological, behavioural and molecular characteristics. The Indian species should be more accurately referred to as Chrysoperla sp. (carnea-group) as they have not been systematically studied and characterized so far using modern techniques.
Authentic identification of the species needs to be done by an expert. But the larvae of Chrysoperla can be reliably identified by the following characters given by Monserrat et al. (2001).
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I instar |
Larva broad at middle and tapering towards both ends (fusiform), not carrying trash. Mandible-maxilla as long as, or longer than cephalic capsule. Thorax and abdomen with lateral and laterodorsal setae long, as long as or longer than femur. Abdomen more or less flattened. Cephalic seta S12 present. Frontoclypeal marking absent or only slightly developed.
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III instar |
Larva not carrying trash. Mandible-maxilla as long as, or longer than cephalic capsule. Thoracic lateral tubercles not elongate, bearing comparatively short setae. Abdomen more or less flattened.
Larva
Markings on head capsule of larva
Head markings in adult
Pupae
Adult
The genus Mallada is among the largest genera of Chrysopidae with most of the Indian species taxonomically poorly known so far. Adults can be reliably identified only by study of male genitalia and at present, easy-to-use keys are not available for the species of the Indian region. Monserrat et al. (2001) have given the following diagnostic characters for the I and III instar larvae of Mallada.
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I instar |
Larva coats itself with debris. Mandible-maxilla as long as, or longer than cephalic capsule. Body humped, with dorsal setae on abdomen long and hooked. Thoracic and abdominal lateral setae long and pointed or spoonbilled. Mesothorax with a dorsal row of four short or minute setae.
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III instar |
Larva coats itself with debris. Mandible-maxilla as long as, or longer than cephalic capsule. Abdomen humped. Thoracic lateral tubercles elongate, bearing long setae. Abdomen with spherical lateral tubercles bearing long setae. Abdominal segments with several dorsal rows of hooked setae. Cephalic seta S12 minute or absent. Abdominal segments V, VI and VII each with laterodorsal tubercles bearing two long setae.
Mallada desjardinsi (Navás) (=Mallada boninensis (Okamoto)) is commonly multiplied in the commercial insectaries of the Indian region for augmentative releases. Dichochrysa astur (Banks), earlier placed in the genus Mallada, is another species produced by commercial insectaries in India. These two species can be distinguished by the head markings in adults and larvae. The adult head markings are clear only in live / fresh specimens and often fade away in preservation.
Pictorial key to distinguish D. astur and M. desjardinsi
Dichochrysa astur (Banks)
(=Mallada astur (Banks)
Mallada desjardinsi (Navás)
(=M. boninensis (Okamoto))
Markings on head capsule
Markings on head capsule
Head anteriorly white or pale luteous, with a
pair of bright pink markings on sides
Head anteriorly green, with a pair of pitch
brown to black, L-shaped markings on sides
Larva with a pair of pronotal markings,
dorsal pigmentation light
(Larva shown without trash)
Larva with much darker pronotum and
generally darker dorsal pigmentation
(Larva carrying trash)
Larva of Mallada desjardinsi (=M. boninensis)
Larva of Dichochrysa astur (Banks) (without trash)
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Preservation of chrysopids |
Most of the literature on chrysopids from India is unreliable and based on suspect or wrong identifications. It is, hence, essential to preserve the chrysopid species used in a study for future reference / verification of identity. Identification of chrysopids is best left to an expert because even at the tribal and generic level, the male and / or female genitalia are frequently used for diagnosis. It is not always possible even for an expert to determine dry, pinned chrysopid material correctly. All chrysopid specimens should ideally be collected into and stored in ethyl alcohol for expert identification.
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Selected references |
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Brooks, S.J. 1997. An overview of the current status of Chrysopidae (Neuroptera) systematics. Deutsche entomologische Zeitschrift 44: 267-275. |
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Brooks, S.J. & Barnard, P.C. 1990. The green lacewings of the world: a generic review (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 59: 117-286. |
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Canard, M., Semeria, V. & New, T.R. 1984. Biology of Chrysopidae. Dr. W.Junk Publishers, Berlin. 294 p. |
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Ghosh, S.K. & Sen, S. 1977. Check-list of Indian Planipennia (Order Neuroptera). Records of the Zoological Survey of India 73: 277-326. |
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McEwen, P.K., New, T.R. & Whittington, A.E. 2001. Lacewings in the crop environment. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 546 p. |
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Monserrat, V.J., Oswald, J.D., Tauber, C.A., and Diaz-Aranda, L.M. 2001. Recognition of larval Neuroptera, pp. 43-81. In: Lacewings in the crop environment (P.K.McEwen, T.R. New & A.E. Whittington). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 546 p. |
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New, T.R. 2001. Introduction to the systematics and distribution of Coniopterygidae, Hemerobiidae, and Chrysopidae used in pest management, pp. 6-28. In: Lacewings in the crop environment (P.K.McEwen, T.R. New & A.E. Whittington). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 546 p. |
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Singh, S.P. & Jalali, S.K. 1991. Chrysopid predators: their production and use. Extension Bulletin No. 2, National Centre for Integrated Pest Management, Bangalore. 12 p. |
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Singh, S.P. & Narasimham, A.U. 1994. Indian Chrysopidae. Technical Bulletin No. 5, Biological Control Centre (National Centre for Integrated Pest Management), Bangalore. 34 p. |