the Biolo(jij of some British Neuroptera. 563 



short waited form of C. alba. The head markings and 

 prothoracic sclerites are the most reliable distinctive 

 characters. 



This is a difficult species to breed, and I have reared 

 none completely from the egg. This year promises better, 

 and some two or three dozen larvae are now (Sept. f5, 

 1922) fully fed for the second instar. These hatched 

 17/8/22 and 20/8/22 from eggs laid 1/8/22 and 4/8/22 

 respectively. It appears that the larva hibernates when 

 in this stage, though sometimes in the third instar. More 

 evidence is necessary, however. 



Chrysopa prasina Burmeister (= aspersa Wesmael.). 



Wing expanse 24-34 mm. This species and the next are very 

 closely allied, although in appearance quite distinct. The colour 

 is bright green. Head with a black spot between the bases of 

 the antennae, and other spots on the front. Pal2)i annulated with 

 black. The pronotum has black or brown spots on each side, 

 tending to for^j^ longitudinal lines. Wings with a black spot at 

 the extreme base of the costa. On each side of the abdomen a 

 black line frequent h^ appears. Sometimes this is indicated bj' 

 little more than a few faint dots, but other specimens show quite 

 distinct Ijlack lines. Variations of this and a more pronounced 

 character caused MacLaehlan (9) to suggest that C. prasina and 

 ventralis might very j^ossibly be varietal forms of one another. 



After giving much attention to this matter I am inclined 

 to consider both distinct, although further work is desirable. 

 Breeding is difficult to carry out, owing to the fact that 

 the larva hibernates in the second or third instar and is 

 then particularly liable to attack by a fungoid disease. 

 All of both species which have successfully passed the 

 winter in captivity have emerged true to their parentage. 

 The larvae of both are very similar, but can as a rule be 

 distinguished. The imagines are often found together, but 

 equally often in separate localities. Two examples from 

 the current year will illustrate. On the 17th June, 1922, 

 twelve specimens of ventralis were beaten from oak at 

 Oxshott, but not a single specimen of prasina was taken. 

 The following Saturday (24th) large numbers of prasina 

 were beaten from pine and birch, within a mile of the 

 previous locality, but not one example of ventralis was 

 taken. 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1922. PARTS III, IV. (fEB. '23) P P 



