Lacewing ID?

[jezlee]

This has got to be the last one for now - I must get some work done!! A Chrysopa spp. certsinly, but which one? Is it possible to identify these from a single photograph?

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Jez,

Well far, far be it for me to say most identifications are usually straight-forward, it would appear that these are all about wing-venation - so a good side-on should be OK such as this. I can't do these myself yet - I need to get that good AIDGAP key.

Take care,

Jason

[Geoff F]

Even with the key, I have become confused with this specimen.

The lack of any black on the head rules out a simple Chrysopa species.

As far as I can tell (which definitely doesn't include any guarantee) I end up with Dichochrysa possibly flavifrons or maybe Cunctochrysa possibly albolineata.

But I think this specimen requires a real expert; preferably with a microscope and a fresh dead specimen.

[Jason Green]

What are the features used in their ID, and are you using a ReS or AIDGAP key?

[Geoff F]

I use the Aidgap key, which I originally purchased for Scorpion Fly ID.

My attempt at following the key, and jumping around a bit because of some unclear items, basically worked like this.

Vein Sc green; second antennal segment green; head green without any black spots; antennal scape not excessively lengthened; fore wing not concave, but I'm guessing that it was 16 mm or longer; some dark cross veins; black dot at base of costal cross vein unclear, so I tried it both ways; palps dark, black ringed; thoracic dorsum without pale longitudinal stripe; angle of hairs on the wing edge unclear so ignored.

That led me to Dichochrysa flavifrons. If the thoracic dorsum has a pale stripe and dark palps, Cunctochrysa albolineata. If the palps are pale, Cunctochrysa bellifontensis or Chrysopidia ciliata are possible and the wing hairs are important.

But one clue which I haven't checked is previous records in the location. I figured that was a job for Jezlee.

Hope this helps; although I may have missed something important when skipping through the pages!

[Jason Green]

Thanks Geoff, appreciated. I take it each descriptive point was the appropriate choice of subsequent couplets? Sounds a little more involved than I expected, but still straight-forward enough to me.

Next year's group to work on, me thinks!

[Harry Eales]

Colin Plants book on Lacewing and Allied orders in the Aidgap series is the best book ever written on identifying the British species. One should be aware that it is now 13 years old and since publication there have been a number of species added to the British List, so some specimens may not check out.

As long as you are aware of this, then this book is highly recommended. Hopefully Colin will get round to updating it in the near future.

If you have just won a large sum on the Lottery there is a two volume book on European Neuroptera by Aspok and Aspok. The last time I looked it was over £250.00 for the pair.

Harry

[Geoff F]

Only £250, that sounds a bargain. But there are quite a few out of print identification books dating back to the 1920s and 1930s which have never been bettered even if you need to update some of the names and they fetch considerable sums on the secondhand market.

I suspect that the Aidgap book would be a lot easier with a fresh specimen in front of you. Photographs can so easily be confusing, especially when you don't even have the original photo.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

I suspect that the Aidgap book would be a lot easier with a fresh specimen in front of you.

...quite.