The Genus Ceraeochrysa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) of America North of Mexico: Larvae, Adults, and Comparative Biology

Ceraeochrysa, with 46 described species, is the largest New World genus in the green lacewing tribe Chrysopini. It encompasses numerous species that have major potential for efficient mass rearing and use in biological control. Here we record Ceraeochrysa claveri (Navás) from the United States for the first time, and we describe or redescribe the trash-carrying larvae and adults of all seven Ceraeochrysa species that are known from America, north of Mexico. In addition to C. claveri, these include C. cincta (Schneider), C. cubana (Hagen), C. lineaticornis (Fitch), C. placita (Banks), C. smithi (Navás), and C. valida (Banks). Furthermore, the literature on the biology of each species is summarized, and keys are presented for identifying larvae and adults. Larvae of six of the species share numerous traits that indicate a close phylogenetic relationship; whereas those of C. placita have a number of unique character states, particularly in the first instar. The pattern of variation indicates that Ceraeochrysa, as it currently stands, is a diverse genus that may need subdivision.