Lacewing Larvae Research Articles

New indications for the life habits of long-legged aphidlion-like larvae in about 100-million-year-old amber

AbstractLarvae of lacewings (Neuroptera) are known to be fierce predators today. Most characteristic are their prominent piercing-sucking stylets, which are used for venom injection and sucking out the fluids of the prey. Among lacewing larvae, aphidlions (larvae of the groups Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae, green and brown lacewings) are today highly specialised to feed on aphids and evolved strategies to not be detected and attacked by, e.g., aphid-protecting ants. Fossil relatives of modern aphidlions seem to have also employed other strategies. For the species Pedanoptera arachnophila from about 100-million-year-old Kachin amber, Myanmar, an interaction of its larvae with spiders has been assumed. We present here new specimens resembling these larvae, including one piece of Cretaceous Kachin amber with a syn-inclusion of an aphidlion-like larva and an immature planthopper, indicating planthoppers as potential prey of the group about 100 million years ago. The morphology of the lacewing larva, with a trapezoid head capsule (in dorsal view), simple, toothless stylets, very elongate legs, and a spindle-shaped trunk, indicates that it is conspecific or at least closely related to P. arachnophila. We reconstruct the possible ontogenetic sequence of Pedanoptera arachnophila and discuss its ecology.

A new giant Jurassic lacewing larva reveals a particular aquatic habit and its significance to the palaeoecology

AbstractNeuroptera, as a small relic group of Insecta undergoing a rapid species diversification during the Mesozoic Era, is known by diverse extinct endemic lineages preserved as impression fossils and in amber. The current understanding of Mesozoic neuropterans′ diversity has mainly focused on the adults, because the contemporaneous larvae have been fairly rare especially for the Jurassic lacewings. Herein, a new giant lacewing larva, Natator giganteus gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou Beds of China. The remarkable larva is characterized by its impressively large body size, distinctively elongated cervix, and presence of swimming hairs on legs, which provide direct evidence to reveal an aquatic habit for the Jurassic lacewing larva. The morphological analysis indicates this giant larva would have probably inhabited the benthic environments of Jurassic montane rivers and streams. In addition, its morphological specialization suggests that it might have adopted an ambush predation strategy to catch its prey. The finding enhances our knowledge of the species diversity and morphological plasticity for the Jurassic lacewing larvae, and reveals that the aquatic lineages of Neuroptera exhibited dramatically structural and ecological convergence across the evolutionary process.

Predatory Capacity of the Green Lacewing Chrysoperla zastrowi (Esben-Petersons) on Different Species of Aphids under Laboratory Conditions

Green lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi (Esben-Petersons) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is the most effective polyphagous predator of different species of aphids and is commonly known as “aphid lion.” During the study, the green lacewing adults were collected from the flowers of different crop plants in Meerut region. The experiment on feeding potential of green lacewing was studied in the Bio-control Laboratory of Department of Entomology, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut from November 2019 to March 2020. The known number of predatory larvae of green lacewings were fed with known number of six different species of live aphids. The total food consumption of a single larva of C. zastrowi were found to be in order of 180.00 ± 1.24 A. craccivora, 171.33 ± 4.42 A. gossypii, 157.67 ± 1.49 B. brassicae, 142.67 ± 2.36 L. erysimi, 131.34 ± 2.19 R. maidis and 119.67 ± 2.94 M. persicae. Results revealed that the third instar were found more voracious than other two instar.

NEW FOSSIL LACEWING LARVAE WITH TRUMPET-SHAPED ELONGATE EMPODIA PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE EVOLUTION OF THIS ATTACHMENT STRUCTURE

The larval life phase often represents the major share of the life span of holometabolans, such as beetles or flies. Therefore, knowledge of these larvae is crucial concerning ecological functions, but also concerning the evolutionary history of the different groups. In the holometabolan group Neuroptera (lacewings), larvae have numerous specialisations, among them the venom-injecting mouthparts, the stylets. Another such very characteristic feature of many lacewing larvae is the empodium, an attachment structure at the tip of the leg, which varies in shape in the larvae of the different lacewing groups. One type of empodium is the elongate trumpet-shaped type, which is found in several lacewing groups today as well as in many fossil representatives, especially well visible due to preservation in amber. Based on the pattern of phylogenetic distribution of the elongate trumpet-shaped empodium, different reconstructions of the evolution of this structure have been put forward, some suggesting possibly convergent evolution, others repetitive losses. In this study, new lacewing larvae preserved in 100-million-year-old amber from Myanmar are presented, which expand the number of lineages with an elongate trumpet-shaped empodium. Based on these new data, the implications on the evolutionary history of the different lineages within Neuroptera are discussed. The fossils demand for an earlier evolution in some reconstructions, but especially for more and later losses of this structure.

New details of the enigmatic 100 million years old antlion-like larvae of Ankyloleon (Myrmeleontiformia, Neuroptera)

Lacewing larvae in the Cretaceous were more diverse in appearance than they are today, best documented by numerous fossils preserved in amber. One morphotype of an unusual larva from about 100 Ma old Kachin amber (Myanmar) was formally recognised as a distinct group called Ankyloleon. The original description erected a single formal species, Ankyloleon caudatus. Yet, it was indicated that among the five original specimens, more species were represented. We here report five new specimens. Among these is the so far largest as well as the so far smallest specimen. Based on this expanded material we can estimate certain aspects of the ontogenetic sequence and are able to recognise a second discrete species, Ankyloleon caroluspetrus sp. nov. We discuss aspects of the biology of Ankyloleon based on newly observed details such as serrations on the mandibles. Long and slender mouthparts, legs and body together with a weakly expressed outer trunk segmentation provide indications for a lifestyle hunting for prey in more confined spaces. Still many aspects of the biology of these larvae must remain unclear due to a lack of a well comparable modern counterpart, emphasising how different the fauna of the Cretaceous was.

Study of Diversity and Abundance Pattern of Natural Enemies Associated with the Mango Mealy Bug (Drosicha mangiferae G) at Malda of West Bengal, India

Background: As a pest, the mango mealy bug (Drosicha mangiferae G) is very important as it ranks second in terms of damage inflicted to the fruit crop. Natural enemies such as predators, parasitoids are considered to be significant deterrent of mango mealy bug. These natural enemies can act as biological control agent which can bring about pest suppression as an important tool of integrated pest management. Therefore, studies of natural enemy complex of mango mealy bug become pertinent. In the current study the available predators, parasitoids of mango mealy bug was surveyed at different regions of Malda. Methods: The predators of mango mealy bugs were studied by sampling mealy bug infested colonies present in the inflorescence and in 20 cm2 area of trunk. Sampling was carried out by visualization of predatory behavior of the entomophagous insects. Parasitoid was studied by observing the emergence of adults from infested mealy bugs in a closed container. Result: Ladybird beetles and Green lacewings were the most abundant predators; their relative abundance was 48.96% and 37.30%. Among the coccinellids, Rodalia amabilis and one unidentified coccinellid were found as dominant. The green lacewing larva, Chrysoparla sp. acted as important predator. Besides Ladybird beetles and Green lacewings, the spiders and bugs were also noticed in the predatory guild. Only one dipteran parasitoid species, Cryptochetum sp. nr. iceryae (Williston) was found to parasitize the mealy bugs. The standardization of mass rearing techniques for the three predators and one parasitoid and their release in the mealy bug infested orchards can bring about efficacious control of this menacing pest.

Convergent evolution and convergent loss in the grasping structures of immature earwigs and aphidlion-like larvae as demonstrated by about 100-million-year-old fossils

Convergent evolution is a common phenomenon, independently leading to similar morphologies in different evolutionary lineages. Often similar functional demands drive convergent evolution. One example is the independent evolution of grasping structures in different lineages of Euarthropoda, though the exact morphology of these grasping structures varies significantly. In this study, we investigated grasping apparatuses with two movable counteracting structures as well as some related structures, exemplified by the stylets (compound structures of mouthparts) of aphidlion-like larvae (part of Neuroptera or lacewings) and the cerci of immature earwigs (Dermaptera). For the stylets of aphidlion-like larvae, studies have pointed to a significant loss in morphological diversity in the last 100 million years. We used quantitative morphology to evaluate if a similar process has also occurred in the cerci of earwigs. The cerci of extant immature earwigs exhibit two distinct types of morphologies in the modern fauna: elongated cerci divided into several ringlets with a feeler-type function, and pincer-like stout cerci. In some fossil immature earwigs, however, the cerci are generally elongated but undivided and roughly occupy the morphospace between those of the two modern cerci types; hence this fossil cerci morphology appears to have been lost. To some extent, a comparable loss is also found in certain lacewing larvae. Outgroup comparisons suggest that the morphologies no longer present today are in fact not ancestral, but instead specialised, hence their loss is possibly resulting from disruptive evolution in earwigs as well as lacewings. We discuss the possible functions of these specialised grasping structures.

Why fake death? Environmental and genetic control of tonic immobility in larval lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).

Tonic immobility is a passive antipredator strategy employed late in the predation sequence that may decrease individual mortality in prey animals. Here, we investigate how energetic state and genetic predisposition influence antipredator decision-making in green lacewing larvae, Chrysoperla plorabunda (Fitch), using simulated predatory encounters. We demonstrate that tonic immobility is a plastic response influenced by energetic resource limitation. Larvae exposed to 1 or 2 days of food deprivation initiate tonic immobility more often and with less physical provocation than individuals fed ad libitum. Recently molted individuals exposed to food deprivation, the individuals most energetically challenged, engage in tonic immobility at a higher rate than any other group. We also find that variation in antipredator strategy between individuals is partly the result of within-population genetic variation. We estimate the propensity to enter tonic immobility to have a broad-sense heritability of 0.502. Taken together our results suggest that larval lacewings under energetic stress are more likely to engage in tonic immobility. Yet, energetic state does not explain all within-population variation, as individuals can have a genetic predisposition for tonic immobility.

First attempt to develop a rearing method for the native green lacewing Chrysoperla lucasina in Tunisia

Green lacewing (Chrysoperla lucasina) is well known for its polyphagous predator larvae which are commonly used in pest’s biological control worldwide. In Tunisia, this auxiliary occurs in the nature in association with several pests but it has never been mass reared and released in biological control programs. Hence, the chrysopid species C. lucasina was chosen for an attempt of rearing in order to strengthen its natural populations. The study was carried out in the insectarium of the company ControlMed specialized in Trichogramma parasitoid production. All equipment used for green lacewing larvae and adult rearing was newly designed for this study. Two diets were given to larvae and adults to assess their biological performances. The first diet was based on pollen for adults and eggs of Ephestia kuehniella for larvae. The second diet consisting of a pasty mixture of honey, yeast and eggs of E. kuehniella, was supplied to adults and larvae. The laboratory rearing conditions were kept constant with 26 ± 2°C, 65 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16L: 8D. The diets based on pollen and E. kuehniella eggs gave the best biological parameters for both adults and larvae. This study which allowed to design a simple technique to rear green lacewing based on affordable material, is a first step for developing a mass rearing of chrysopids in Tunisia. However, further improvements are required for adult and larvae diets to increase reproductive and developmental performance, as well as an economic feasibility study.

Oldest record of a dustywing-type larva in about 100-million-year-old amber

Larvae of Neuroptera (lacewings) significantly differ in morphology and ecology from the corresponding adults. Especially the often-pronounced mouthparts shaped as stylets for catching prey are prominent in lacewing larvae. These stylets make them quite easily identifiable also as fossils, and indeed a large number of fossil lacewing larvae has been described in recent years. Larvae of Coniopterygidae (ingroup of Neuroptera, dustywings) with their rather straight stylets have to date been reported since the Eocene; one report from the Cretaceous having been reinterpreted as a larva of Berothidae (beaded lacewings). We report here a lacewing larva from about 100-million-year-old Cretaceous Kachin amber from Myanmar with strong similarities to modern larvae of Coniopterygidae. The new larva possesses characters known from different extant ingroups of dustywing larvae, but in a combination not known from any modern dustywing larva. Such unusual character combinations occur in different fossils, among them in prominent examples such as Archaeopteryx, often due to a mixture of apo- and plesiomorphic characters from different groups, and partly complicated by the occurrence of convergences. Despite the unusual character combination in the new larva, it can be clearly identified as a dustywing-type larva, with this extending the record of these larvae into the Cretaceous.

Correction to: 'Giant Jurassic dragon lacewing larvae with lacustrine palaeoecology represent the oldest fossil record of larval neuropterans' (2023) by Du et al.

Open AccessMoreSectionsView PDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail Cite this article Du Xuheng, Niu Kecheng and Bao Tong 2023Correction to: ‘Giant Jurassic dragon lacewing larvae with lacustrine palaeoecology represent the oldest fossil record of larval neuropterans’ (2023) by Du et al.Proc. R. Soc. B.2902023041120230411http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.0411SectionOpen AccessCorrectionCorrection to: ‘Giant Jurassic dragon lacewing larvae with lacustrine palaeoecology represent the oldest fossil record of larval neuropterans’ (2023) by Du et al. Xuheng Du Xuheng Du http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3476-5074 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , Kecheng Niu Kecheng Niu http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0100-0144 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author and Tong Bao Tong Bao http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7510-593X [email protected] Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author Xuheng Du Xuheng Du http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3476-5074 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , Kecheng Niu Kecheng Niu http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0100-0144 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author and Tong Bao Tong Bao http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7510-593X [email protected] Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author Published:15 March 2023https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.0411This article corrects the followingResearch ArticleGiant Jurassic dragon lacewing larvae with lacustrine palaeoecology represent the oldest fossil record of larval neuropteranshttps://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.2500 Xuheng Du, Kecheng Niu and Tong Bao volume 290issue 1993Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences15 February 2023Proc. R. Soc. B290, 20222500. (Published online 15 February 2023). (https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.2500)After publication of the article [1], it was brought to our attention that the genus name we proposed for the new fossil is a junior homonym of Palaeoneurorthus Wichard, 2009 [2]. In accordance with ICZN article 60.3, we herein propose substitute names for the genus and the species, with the same type designations and diagnoses as the original publication. We thank the colleagues who pointed out this issue.Girafficervix, nomen novumin substitution for Palaeoneurorthus Du, Niu & BaoType species: Girafficervix baii Du, Niu & Bao, typification by monotypy.Diagnosis: as species.Gender: feminine.Etymology: the name is compounded from the genus name Giraffa, meaning giraffe, and cervix, Latin meaning neck, in reference to the specimen's long neck.Girafficervix baii, nomen novum, holotype YLNHM01098, paratype NIGP201165 in substitution for Palaeoneurorthus baii Du, Niu & BaoRefer to Du, Niu & Bao (2023) [1] for details on the holotype, diagnoses and etymology.Footnotes© 2023 The Authors.Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.

Cephalic anatomy highlights morphological adaptation to underground habitats in a minute lacewing larva of Dilar (Dilaridae) and conflicting phylogenetic signal in Neuroptera.

Dilaridae are a distinctive and phylogenetically ambiguous neuropteran family. So far, the anatomy of the immature stages remains largely unknown. We examined the 1st instar larvae of Dilar montanus in detail and present results of live observations for the first time. The minute, cryptic larvae display features correlated with their underground lifestyle: for instance, a strongly flattened head, stout antennae, eyelessness, and burrowing forelegs. In contrast to molecular data, several characters suggest a 'dilarid clade' combining Dilaridae with Mantispoidea, for instance a very thin and curved or reduced tentorial bridge, and an elongated postmentum. We found intrinsic antennal muscles and Johnston's organ, the first record of these structures in holometabolous larvae. This proves that the first 2 larval antennomeres are homologous with the scapus and pedicellus. The described characters are discussed and analyzed with an updated matrix of neuropteran larval characters. Alternative scenarios of character evolution are presented. Additionally, we show how the 1st-instar larvae move and feed in the substrate, and also provide a high-resolution video recording of the function of the elongate tubular ovipositor and the egg-laying behavior in an adult female under natural conditions.

Giant Jurassic dragon lacewing larvae with lacustrine palaeoecology represent the oldest fossil record of larval neuropterans.

Neuropterans seem to be less specious among holometabolans, while they are in fact the relicts of a diverse group from the Mesozoic era. Their early radiation resulted in great family level morphological heterogeneity of extant neuropterans, especially of their larvae. The earliest previously reported fossil larvae of this group were from the Early Cretaceous, where they already showed high taxonomic diversity and an extremely wide range of variations in morphotypes. In this work, the earliest record of the larva of the neuropteran Palaeoneurorthus baii gen. et sp. nov. from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou Beds of China is described. The larvae, which have large and elongated bodies, straight stylets with curved apices, an extremely elongated cervix and an extended anterior lobe of pronotum, are placed in Nevrorthidae. The elongated cervix is probably a specialized adaptation for hunting small organisms. The palaeoenvironment of these larvae indicates that larvae of Nevrorthidae have exhibited stable aquatic ecology since the Middle Jurassic, and underwent a possible shift from lakes to more lotic yet constricted modern mountain rivulet habitats over time.

An Expanded View on the Morphological Diversity of Long-Nosed Antlion Larvae Further Supports a Decline of Silky Lacewings in the Past 100 Million Years

Lacewings have been suggested to be a relict group. This means that the group of lacewings, Neuroptera, should have been more diverse in the past, which also applies to many ingroups of Neuroptera. Psychopsidae, the group of silky lacewings, is one of the ingroups of Neuroptera which is relatively species-poor in the modern fauna. Larvae of the group Psychopsidae, long-nosed antlions, can be easily identified as such in being larvae of antlion-like lacewings without teeth in their stylets (=compound structure of mandible and maxilla), with empodia (=attachment structures on legs) and with a prominent forward-protruding labrum. Therefore, such larvae can also be recognised in the fossil record. An earlier study demonstrated a decline in the morphological diversity of long-nosed antlion larvae over the past 100 million years. Here, we report several dozen new long-nosed antlion larvae and expand the earlier quantitative study. Our results further corroborate the decline of silky lacewings. Yet, a lack of an indication of saturation indicates that we have still not approached the original diversity of long-nosed antlions in the Cretaceous.

Predatory Performance of Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on Jacobiasca lybica (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) under Laboratory Conditions

Jacobiasca lybica (Bergevin & Zanon) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is a polyphagous pest that damages grapevines in Europe and citrus fruits in Morocco. Management of this insect is based mainly on chemical control, but there is an urgent need to develop an alternative management tool, such as biological control. In this study, we evaluated the predation rate of the first-to third-instar Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on J. lybica under laboratory conditions. The predation rate of each lacewing instar was determined 24 h after placing an individual lacewing larva in a Petri dish containing a freshly detached grape leaf with 15 adult and five immature leafhoppers. The average predation rate by the third instar was 47.8%, which was significantly higher than that of the second instar (31.1%). The predation rate was not different between the first (21.7%) and second instars. The predation rates for leafhopper nymphs (46.7%) were significantly higher than for the adults (29.1%).

A split-footed lacewing larva from about 100-million-year-old amber indicates a now extinct hunting strategy for neuropterans

A split-footed lacewing larva from about 100-million-year-old amber indicates a now extinct hunting strategy for neuropterans

Effect of Transgenic Cotton Expressing Bt Cry1Ac or Cry1Ab/Ac Toxins on Lacewing Larvae Mediated by Herbivorous Insect Pests.

A simple food chain (plant, insect pests, and predatory arthropods) in an agro-ecosystem was set up here as a model system to elucidate the potential effect of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton on non-target organisms. The system included transgenic/non-transgenic cotton, neonate larvae of three herbivorous insects (Spodoptera exigua, Helicoverpa armigera, and S. litura), and predatory lacewing larvae (Chrysopa spp.), which represent the first, second, and third trophic levels, respectively. The results showed that transgenic treatments and different densities of prey had significant effects on both body-weight gain of neonate herbivorous larvae and the number of prey captured by lacewing larvae, respectively. It was found that Bt toxin could persist at the third trophic level in lacewing larvae. The diet mixture bioassay showed that body-weight gain of lacewing larvae was significantly affected by various treatments, especially at lower concentrations of plant-expressed Bt toxin in the diet mixture, which caused significant decreases in body-weight gain. In contrast, synthetic Bt toxin at higher concentrations in the diet did not show this effect. Thus, we inferred that Bt toxin indirectly affected the growth of the lacewings and the lacewings may not be susceptible to Bt toxin or are able to metabolize it.

Risk Assessment of the Biological Control Product «Gulløyelarver» with the Active Organism Chrysoperla Carnea

Gulløyelarver (green lacewing larvae, Chrysoperla carnea) is a product for biological control. The application is for use against aphids in green-houses and tunnels.
 Gulløyelarver was used in Norway from 1985-1993. An assessment in 2001 concluded however that the use of products with Chrysoperla carnea could represent an environmental risk since it was not known if the species in the products were the same as the ones with natural occurrence in Scandinavia.
 In this regard, The Norwegian Food Safety Authority would like VKM to perform an assessment of possible risks related to health and environment in light of possible new data.
 VKM’s conclusions are as follows:
 Health:
 The larvae of Chrysoperla carnea have hollow jaws through which they can inject digestive enzymes into their prey. In contact with humans, the larvae are capable of delivering painful bites which may cause local swelling. Such bites are however not considered dangerous, and can be avoided with preventive measures.
 Allergic asthma and rhino conjunctivitis has been reported in persons working in the production of biological agents with Chrysoperla carnea, but it is the opinion of VKM that such effects are not likely to be relevant for users of the agents.
 Environment:
 A previous assessment in 2001 concluded that the use of products with Chrysoperla carnea represented an environmental risk because of the risk of genetic interference with natural populations of the species in Norway.
 Lacewings belonging to the Chrysoperla carnea complex are considered established and indigenous in Norway, and a recent study by the Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk) strongly suggests that the lacewings in the commercial products belong to the same cryptic species complex as individuals sampled in Norway. In case the species in the products is different from those present in Norway, any genetic interference with local populations in Norway is prevented by differences in duetting songs.
 If an invertebrate biological control agent is indigenous and has limited direct or indirect effect on the environment, it is the opinion of VKM that it could be authorized for release in greenhouses or plastic tunnels.
 Chrysoperla carnea is polyphagous and cannibalistic. They prefer aphids, but may also consume other insects and mites. It is however the opinion of VKM that the environmental risk from this will be minimized in greenhouses and tunnels where the release will be in a contained environment and directed against aphid colonies.
 Establishment, host range and dispersal ability should be carefully reviewed, even if the species is indigenous. Chrysoperla carnea may establish in the greenhouse and plastic tunnels and may also possess the ability to disperse and survive in the field. However, it is the opinion of VKM that the direct and indirect effects of this are at most moderate, although it cannot be completely excluded that Chrysoperla carnea species in the products might also have properties that have not been reviewed.

100 Million-year-old straight-jawed lacewing larvae with enormously inflated trunks represent the oldest cases of extreme physogastry in insects

Physogastry is a phenomenon occurring in Euarthropoda and describes an extreme inflation of (parts of) the trunk. It is best known from ticks, termite queens, or honey-pot ants, but can also be found in several other representatives of Euarthropoda. Physogastry has so far rarely been seen in the fossil record. We describe here an example of physogastry in two lacewing larvae (Neuroptera) enclosed in a single piece of Kachin amber (ca. 100 Ma old). We measured head and trunk ratios of different physogastric and non-physogastric representatives of Euarthropoda. Plotting these ratios shows that the new larvae, which display quite extremely inflated trunks, are very similar to ticks or honey-pot ants, but also to certain lacewing larvae of the group Berothidae (beaded lacewings). Outline analysis of head capsule and mouthparts (stylets) further suggests a position within Berothidae. Physogastry is presumed to be linked with living in confined spaces such as wood galleries or soil. Indeed, at least some larvae of Berothidae are known to live inside termite nests for part of their larval life phase, a habit the new larvae may also have had. The new record represents the oldest case of extreme physogastry in insects known to date.

Overlooked lacewings in biological control: The brown lacewing Micromus angulatus and the green lacewing Chrysopa formosa suppress aphid populations in pepper

AbstractLacewings are important natural enemies of soft‐bodied arthropods. Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae in particular include promising biological control agents of key agricultural pests. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of larvae and adults of the brown lacewing Micromus angulatus and the green lacewing Chrysopa formosa in controlling the green peach aphid Myzus persicae under laboratory conditions. We found that the release of the first instar larvae of both species at the rate of 2 or 10 individuals per pepper plant was effective in reducing the populations of M. persicae, irrespectively of the initial pest infestation pressure, i.e., 10 or 20 aphids per plant. The brown lacewing larvae at the highest release rate managed to completely eliminate the aphids from the pepper plants within two weeks following release. Adult lacewings of both species released at a rate of one to two females per plant were also effective in drastically reducing of M. persicae populations. Our results highlight the potential of these two widespread but overlooked lacewing species for use in biological pest control.