51 6 Journal of Agricultural Research vol. vi. No. i 4 



Quavle (7) listed it as an enemy of the Citrus red spider (Tciranychus 



mytUaspidis Riley) and remarked that "this is the commonest of the 



predatory insects occurring on citrus trees." Two years later the 



species was mentioned as an enemy of the Citrus red spider by Ewing (6). 



Essig (4), in 1 91 1, described it briefly and included a few remarks on its 



habits and hosts. In 191 3 (5), in his "California Insects," he credited 



this species of Chrysopa with feeding upon 14 different species of insects. 



In August (2), 1 91 5, and again in October (2), Mr. E. J. Branigan, 



a deputy of the California Horticultural Commission, referred to the 



economic importance of this species. In the first citation he reported 



the insect as feeding upon the "elm-leaf cluster louse." He stated: 



"Large numbers of the egg clusters of Chrysopa calif ornica were present, 



the larvae upon hatching, burrowing into the leaf clusters and feeding 



upon the lice." In October he reported this lacewing larva as attacking 



a citrus mealy bug (Pseudococcus sp.), and states further: "The green 



lacewing was found to be heavily parasitized by several species of 



parasites." 



DISTRIBUTION OF THE FLY 



From our present knowledge of the species it is distinctly of western 

 distribution, occurring throughout the Pacific Coast States, Texas, 

 Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Lower California, and doubtless Utah. 

 As early as 1903, Banks (1) stated: 



I have seen specimens from many places; Los Angeles, Tehama, Wanona[Wawona?], 

 San Bernardino, Palo Alto, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County and Siskiou 

 [Siskiyou ?] County, mostly in July and August, but some in April ; also from Hood River, 

 Oregon, September; Pullman, Wash., July and August; and King's Canon, Ormsby 

 County, Nevada, July. 



Mr. C. N. Ainslie, of the Bureau of Entomology, has taken a specimen 

 of Chrysopa sp. at Salt Lake City, Utah, which is without much doubt 

 this species. The writer has taken or seen specimens in southern Cali- 

 fornia, Lower California, Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, and in many 

 different localities in these States at elevations varying from sea level 



to 7,000 feet 



HOST INSECTS 



While the larvae of this lacewing fly, as well as Chrysopidae in general, 

 feed primarily upon aphids, their good work is far from being restricted 

 to this group of insects. Mites, leafhoppers, thrips, and doubtless many 

 other insects sufficiently small to be easily captured and devoured are 

 likewise eaten. 



Essig (5) has shown the following 14 species of insects to be attacked 

 by Chrysopa calif ornica: 



Clover mite (Bryobia pratetisis Garman). 

 Two-spotted mite {Tetranychus mytilaspidis Riley). 

 Red spider (T. telarius Linnaeus). 

 Apple- leafhopper (Empoasca mali Le Baron). 



