The actual annual occurrence of the green lacewings of northwestern Europe (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).

Abstract

Quantitative surveys of chrysopids from northwestern Europe were analysed. A total of thirty-five species are known within the zone although only twenty-six were recorded. Only the common green lacewings (i.e. the sibling species of the Chrysoperla carnea complex, here not differentiated) were elsewhere abundant comprising more than 3/4 of the specimens in all countries and reaching 97 % in Belgium. For the scarcer species, comments are given on their enhanced geographic range. The French fauna shows 19 species, six are exceptional (< 0.1%) such as the Atlanto-Mediterranean Dichochrysa picteti . Five species are considered rare (1<Q ≤ 5 %): Chrysopa perla , Ch. phyllochroma , Dichochrysa flavifrons, D. inornata and D. prasina. The fauna of both Great Britain and Ireland has the same faunistical richness but manifests a more balanced equitability. Chrysopa perla , Dichochrysa flavifrons and Cunctochrysa albolineata are uncommon (5 < Q ≤ 15 %), the others are at least rare. Belgium and Luxemburg gave 16 species and a very low diversity. Hypochrysa elegans, Nineta vittata, N. principiae and Chrysopa pallens are exceptional. Comments are given on some underestimated species, such as Dichochrysa mariana and Cunctochrysa bellifontensis not unanimously agreed, and D. abdominalis too recently re-instated to be identified in many collections.