Review of 2019 and 2020 - Green Lacewings (Chrysopidae) part 1: Chrysopa to Nineta

GREEN LACEWINGS (CHRYSOPIDAE)


Chrysopa commata - 8 in my garden moth trap between 29th May and 4th August 2019 but just one here in 2020, 14th August.  The species has been annual over the last 5 years and I recorded 8 in 2018 too.  Also one at the meadows on 3rd June 2020.

Chrysopa commata, North Elmham, 29th May 2019

Chrysopa commata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd June 2020

Chrysopa pallens - None.  I've not yet encountered this species but although its not commonly recorded there are enough records in Norfolk to think it feasible that one might turn up here.


Chrysopa perla - Found at the meadows on 27th May and 3rd and 20th June 2020.  None in 2019 and none in the garden where I have only recorded one before, in 2018.  I'd had 2 at the meadows in 2018 too - this species seems to avoid gardens, or possibly it's just that it doesn't come to light (and that's the main way I find things in my garden) - I don't think any of these 3 records were coming to light.

Chrysopa perla, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th May 2020

Chrysopa perla, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd June 2020

Chrysopa perla, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th June 2020

Chrysoperla carnea - I check every male for Chrysoperla pallida, a very similar species that has not yet been recorded in Norfolk, but females of the two species cannot be separated.  The following records include both confirmed males and aggregate females on the basis that in the absence of any male pallida (here or anywhere in Norfolk), the number of any female pallida that might have crept in must be so small as to not skew the data.  I recorded a total of 74 here in 2019 and 98 in 2020, the vast majority of which were in my garden moth trap, with records in every month apart from January in 2019, but only April and June to November in 2020.  Peak counts of 7 on 25th July 2019 and 11 on 4th July 2020.  These compare to totals of 112 in 2018 with a peak count of 28 (in October) and 84 in 2017 (peak 13).  Elsewhere I recorded 17 at the meadows and one at Swanton Great Wood.

male Chrysoperla carnea, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st April 2019

male Chrysoperla carnea, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 21st May 2019

female Chrysoperla carnea agg. larva, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th June 2020 (bred through)

male Chrysoperla carnea, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2020

2 male Chrysoperla carnea, North Elmham, 24th June 2020

The following chart shows the distribution of my records of this species here in North Elmham between 2016 and 2020:

Chrysoperla lucasina - One in the garden moth trap on 23rd May 2020, my first since 2017 when I caught 3 here.  I sometimes worry that I might be overlooking this species among carnea as it's meant to be pretty common, but I do look out for them.  I have a few times picked out examples that appeared to be candidates for this species and then decided that they weren't in the end, which also made me wonder whether I'd identified the 2017 records correctly but looking back at my photos I think they're clear enough - clearer in fact than this one from 2020.

Chrysoperla lucasina, North Elmham, 23rd May 2020

Chrysopidia ciliata - None at home in 2019 or 2020 despite having had one in the garden trap in each of the previous 3 years (and 1-2 elsewhere each year).  Elsewhere one at the meadows on 26th June 2020 and one at Bintree Wood on 24th July 2020.

Chrysopidia ciliata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 26th June 2020

Chrysopidia ciliata, Bintree Wood, 24th July 2020

Cunctochrysa albolineata - A fantastic year followed by a rubbish year!  A stark difference between my totals of 110 caught in my garden moth trap between 23rd June and 22nd August 2019 (making it my commonest lacewing in 2019) and just 7 here between 26th June and 22nd September 2020 (the last being the latest date I've recorded this species).  Peak counts in 2019 were 31 on 23rd July and 34 on 25th July but the species was recorded on 23 nights.  2019 was exceptional, with 21 being my previous best total (in 2017) but 2020 was worse than usual.  Elsewhere one next door and 5 at the meadows (plus a possible larva, see below).

Cunctochrysa albolineata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd June 2019

Cunctochrysa albolineata, North Elmham, 22nd September 2020

The following chart shows the distribution of my records of this species to date:

It's hard to find decent references to lacewing larvae and the ones I've seen are quite limited.  I think this larva found at the meadows on 3rd September 2019 is probably this species but I am not 100% certain.

possible Cunctochrysa albolineata, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd September 2019

Dichochrysa flavifros - A total of 55 caught in my garden moth trap between 23rd June and 23rd October 2019 making it my best year so far (though only just ahead of 54 in 2017).  As with the last species 2020 wasn't nearly so good with just 10 between 5th July and 22nd August.  Peak counts in 2019 were 10 on 23rd July and 16 on 25th July.  None recorded elsewhere in 2019 but one at the meadows on 18th June 2020.

Dichochrysa flavifrons, North Elmham, 23rd Ocotber 2019

Dichochrysa flavifrons, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th June 2020

The following chart shows the distribution of my records of this species to date, a similar shape to the previous species:

Dichochrysa prasina - Totals of 10 caught in my garden moth trap between 29th June and 9th August 2019 and 6 between 3rd July and 10th August 2020.  The peak count of 3 on the 25th July 2019 was on the same day as the peak count of the previous two species but although 2019 was my best year to date for this species the difference between 2019 and other years wasn't so great.

Dichochrysa prasina, North Elmham, 19th July 2019

Dichochrysa prasina, North Elmham, 3rd July 2020

Dichochrysa ventralis - Singles caught in my garden moth trap on 19th and 25th July 2019 and 26th June and 31st July 2020.  I've recorded this species here in each year since 2016 but never more than twice.  Also one at Bintree Wood on 26th June 2020.

Dichochrysa ventralis, North Elmham, 19th July 2019 (the second photo taken through a glass pot in order to show its distinctive underside)

Dichochrysa ventralis, North Elmham, 26th June 2020

Dichochrysa ventralis, North Elmham, 31st July 2020

Nineta flava - None.  I think this must be one of the commonest lacewings that I'm yet to find.


Nineta vittata - Singles caught in my garden moth trap on 23rd July 2019 and 21st August 2020.  I've recorded this relatively large species here in each year since 2016 but with a total of only 8.  I'm yet to find any anywhere else.

Nineta vittata, North Elmham, 23rd July 2019

Nineta vittata, North Elmham, 21st August 2020 (with Chrysoperla carnea on the right in the second photo to show size comparison)

Next page: more Chrysopidae (the best ones!)

Two-banded Longhorn Beetle

Some good insecting on Thursday 22nd May began at Ryburgh where moths consisted of Meadow Long-horn Cauchas rufimitrella, 2 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana, 3 Cocksfoot Moths Glyphipterix simpliciella and Silver-ground Carpet. I didn't manage to catch a shiny colourful beetle but after finding a similar one at home the following day I identified it retrospectively as Garden Chafer, a new one for me though I'm pretty sure I have seen and not identified them before.  Other beetles were more obliging - there were lots of similar beetles feeding in buttercup flowers and the one I retained proved to be Oedemera lurida, the first time I have identified this species too.  A similar but larger and brighter example proved to be Swollen-thighed Beetle Odemera nobilis.

Oedemera lurida, Ryburgh, 22nd May

Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera nobilis, Ryburgh, 22nd May

Moving on to Thursford Wood another beetle was one of the highlights - another new species for me and a more distinctive one, Two-banded Longhorn Beetle.

Two-banded Longhorn Beetle, Thursford Wood, 22nd May

Another new beetle was probably Altica oleracea.  I think the relatively large size (compared to other members of the genus) point to this species, plus it seems to be one of the commoner ones (if not commonest), but it seems that the male genitalia ought to be checked when identifying individuals from this genus, and I think this one was a female.

Altica sp., probably Altica oleracea, Thursford Wood, 22nd May

As I didn't fancy taking this one's mites home with me I'm pleased it was identifiable from photos - another new one for me, Common Sexton Beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides.

Common Sexton Beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides, Thursford Wood, 22nd May

Another Malthodes marginatus was identified and 3 Dock Bugs were seen.  A pale green lacewing proved to be Chrysopidia ciliata and there were 15 Azure Damselfies.

Malthodes marginatus (male, gen det), Thursford Wood, 22nd May

Dock Bug, Thursford Wood, 22nd May

Chrysopidia ciliata, Thursford Wood, 22nd May

Some moths were seen too, of course, including Large Long-horn Nematopogon swammerdamella, Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella, Meadow Long-horn Cauchas rufimitrella, Oak Satin Lift Heliozela sericiella, Cork Moth Nemapogon cloacella, Nut Leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli, 3 Sulphur Tubics Esperia sulphurella, 2 Bluebell Conches Hysterophora maculosana and 3 Silver-ground Carpets.

It was a good night for moths at home too with these new for the year: Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella, Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiotata, Light Emerald, Shears, Common Wainscot and Brown Rustic.

Triple-spot Dwarf Elachista maculicerusella, North Elmham, 22nd May

White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, North Elmham, 22nd May

Pointed Groundling Scrobipalpa acuminatella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 22nd May

Rush Marble Bactra lancealana, North Elmham, 22nd May

Ringed China-mark Parapoynx stratiatata, North Elmham, 22nd May

Light Emerald, North Elmham, 22nd May

Shears, North Elmham, 22nd May

Common Wainscot, North Elmham, 22nd May

Brown Rustic, North Elmham, 22nd May

Other moths were Ribwort Slender Aspilapteryx tringipennella, 5 Yellow-faced Bells Notocelia cynosbatella, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Silver-ground Carpets, 2 Green Carpets, 3 Common Pugs, Clouded Border, 2 Brimstone Moths, Waved Umber, Poplar Hawk-moth, Eyed Hawk-moth, 2 Pale Tussocks, 2 White Ermines, Cinnabar, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Nutmeg, 7 Treble Lines and Spectacle.

Eyed Hawk-moth, North Elmham, 22nd May

There were also two caddisflies - Cyrnus flavidus being new for the house and Limnephilus vittatus.

Cyrnus flavidus, North Elmham, 22nd May