Italochrysa italica
| Italochrysa italica | ||||||||||||
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Italochrysa italica |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Italochrysa italica | ||||||||||||
| ( Rossi , 1790) |
Italochrysa italica is a lacewings from the family of lacewings (Chrysopidae). This largest member of the family occurs mainly in southern Europe. Within the German-speaking countries, the species is only found in Switzerland. The chest is yellow-brown with a red-brown side stripe.
anatomy
Italochrysa italica belongs to the subfamily Chrysopinae . The species in this subfamily have a hearing organ at the base of the forewings. The front and rear wings are hooked together via a small bristle on the hind wing (frenulum) that is indistinctly developed in the Chrysopinae. Fore and hind wings are similarly built and richly veined. The leading edge of the wings is formed by the Costa longitudinal artery. The two following longitudinal arteries, Subcosta and Radius, run parallel to each other with a small distance (Fig. 2, ocher and brown). The Kostal field (in Fig. 2 at the upper edge of the wing) is divided by many transverse arteries that are unbifurcated. A longitudinal artery, the posterior median, splits into two arteries; however, the two branches reunite shortly after the fork. The intermediate cell of the fore wing, the area enclosed by the two branches (dark blue in Fig. 2), is trapezoidal in Nothochrysa italica . After the two median branches have merged, the vein now known as pseudomedia continues (Fig. 2, light blue). The pseudomedia runs in a straight line to the outer zigzag artery (gradate row, pink in Fig. 2) and does not end with the inner gradate row (green in Fig. 2).
As with all species of the family, the head has two protruding complex eyes that shine metallic gold. Ocelles are missing. The many-jointed antennae are thread-shaped and protrude beyond the end of the abdomen. The mouthparts point downward and are of the biting type. The mandibles are strong.
The spotting on the head and pronotum varies considerably, but does not define geographic races. The legs have five-limbed tarsi that are built identically (homonomous). The claws are widened at the base. The wings extend over the abdomen with a length of 22 to 25 millimeters by far. They are transparent and colorless.
Larvae
The larvae have six trained legs and are predatory. The head is stretched forward and has long, pointed jaws. The antennae are thread-shaped and longer than the jaws. There are six ocelles on each side of the head . Presumably there are three larval stages.
Way of life
The species probably develops exclusively in the tree nests of the ant Crematogaster scutellaris . They feed on ant eggs larvae and pupae. One generation is formed per year, with overwintering in the larval stage. The eggs are parasitized by parasitic wasps of the genus Trichogramma .
Occurrence and distribution
The species is only found scattered, but occasionally it comes to mass reproduction. Small dry areas are preferred to be inhabited. Within Europe, the species is native to southern Europe and parts of eastern Europe. In Asia they are found in Anatolia, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel. The deposits range from sea level to altitudes of 1000 meters.
swell
- Michael Chinery: Parey's Book of Insects . Paul Parey Publishing House, Hamburg and Berlin, ISBN 3-490-23118-X
- H. Aspöck et al .: The Neuroptera of Europe . Goecke and Evers, Krefeld 1980
