The Chrysopas or Golden Eyes 



Roger C. Smith, Ph.D. 

 Public Museum, Milwaukee 



This family of common insects is one deserving our acquaintance. 

 Not only are they beautiful and possess striking habits, but they 

 are also of considerable economic im.portance. Both the lar\'8s 

 and adults feed on plant lice, young scale, mites and other sm.all, 

 soft-bodied form.s which are for the m_ost part destructive to m.an. 



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The adults of this family can be taken at lights in the evening 

 from seven to nine o'clock and around plants upon which are plant 

 lice or aphids from, early summ.er until late autmnn. The stalked 

 eggs, all stages of the larvae and occasionally the cocoons can be 

 found on aphid infested plants during the sam.e period. The adults 

 are largely pale green in color with the head variously m.arked 

 with orange, red or brownish black. The eyes in life have a strik- 

 ing golden luster, hence the nam.e golden eyes (chrysos-golden, 

 opsis-eye). The wings are large and when at rest are held roof 

 like at the sides of the body. They are opalescent and their rich 

 venation has called forth the nam.e "Lace Wings" for the family, a 

 nam.e quite com.m.only used. The wings vary slightly in size, 

 shape and coloration. The veins of som.e species are all light green 

 others vary to all veins black. There has been some difference of 

 opinion as to the food of the adults. But the writer believes that 

 practically all our species eat aphids, requiring lo to 20 per day. 

 They also lap up drops of water or plant sap greedily. 



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