Family CHRYSOPIDAE
Compiler and date details
T.R. New La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
Introduction
The green lacewings are one of the largest and most complex families of Neuroptera, and occur in most terrestrial biomes throughout the world. Their widespread use, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, as biological control agents has led to substantial information on their biology (Canard et al. 1984), but few Australian species have been studied in any detail.
Australian Chrysopidae include three subfamilies: the predominantly tropical Apochrysinae, the austral Nothochrysinae (with both Australian genera endemic) and the widespread Chrysopinae. As elsewhere in the world, the latter is the most diverse group. The Australian species were reviewed by New (1980), but the global review of genera in the family by Brooks & Barnard (1990), has resulted in a number of changes in generic placement.
References
Brooks, S.J. & Barnard, P.C. 1990. The green lacewings of the world: a generic review (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology 59: 117–286
Canard, M., Séméria, Y. & New, T.R. (eds) 1984. Biology of Chrysopidae. The Hague : W. Junk (Ser. Entomologica 27) 294 pp.
New, T.R. 1980. A revision of the Australian Chrysopidae (Insecta: Neuroptera). Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series 77: 1–143