University of Alberta Museums Search

The main characters that identify C. chi are the frons with a dark coloured ring around the base of the antennae, which is the same as C. oculata, and the presence of an x-shaped mark between the antennal bases, which separates C. chi from all other species. Head- The scape is unmarked and the antennae are pale in color. Both the maxillary and labial palps are blackish-brown, however the cardo is unmarked. Labrum is unmarked. Clypeus is broad with black latitudinal patches. Frons black with interantennal markings that are continuous beneath the antennal sockets. Genae have broad black longitudinal bands anteriorly, not reaching eye margins. Thorax - Pronotum with three pairs of dorsolateral black patches. Setae (bristles) dark mixed with pale. Alinotum with black spots. Forewing crossveins dark at ends and gradates black. Legs unmarked with black setae. Claws excised. Venter black on membrane and intersternites. Abdomen - Setae amber, but darker on venter.

Not much is known about the life history of C. chi. They belong to the oculata group, and so, like C. oculata, adults produce foul-smelling secretions (Henry 1982). Adults, especially males, produce courtship songs by vibrating their abdomens, which may be important in species isolation (Henry 1982). Lacewing eggs are usually oval-shaped, and are perched on the end of a long stalk that is stuck into a substrate (Canard et al. 1984). Larvae generally overwinter in cocoons as diapausing third instars (Penny et al. 2000).

Penny et al. (2000) developed an identification key to the adult Chrysopa species, which highlights some of the important morphological features in distinguishing green lacewings at the genus and the species level. Larvae of Chrysopa species have relatively uniform external characters, such as a stocky, campodeiform body, a flattened abdomen, and spherical thoracic and abdominal lateral tubercles, so identification relies mainly on the adults.