50 PROTECTION OF PLANTS, 1915-16 



THE CHRYSOPA OR GOLDEN-EYED FLY 

 J. C. Chapais, St. Denis-en-bas, Que. 



The Quebec Society for the Protection of Plants has within its sphere 

 of action two missions to fulfil ; first that of studying carefully the insects, 

 fungi, weeds, and the diseases against which valuable plants need protec- 

 tion, and second, that of studying the insects and the remedies which are 

 helpful to man in his work for the protection of plants. 



Today, I wish to speak to the members of the Society about a useful 

 insect which is the relentless enemy of a whole class of insects injurious 

 to a multitude of useful plants. The insect belongs to the Order Neu- 

 roptera, the Family Hemerobiidae, and to the genus Chrysopa, of which a 

 dozen species are known in the province of Quebec. Here is a very fine 

 description of Chrysopa given in an issue of "La Nature," a Scientific 

 French review, April 4th, 1914, by Mr. Rene Merle: 



"The Golden-eyed Flies, what a pretty name for an insect, and how 

 gracefully it is carried by the Chrysopae or Hemerobii, those small neurop- 

 tera with a pale emerald green body, pellucid iridescent wings ribbed with 



Chrysopa, Golden-Eyes, or Lace-Wing — a eggs on end of stalks; b larva, called 

 "aphis-lion"; c adult chrysopa or lace-wing. 



green and, above all, eyes like living jewels, glowing with all the tints from 

 burnished gold to emerald and from lapis to ruby. This living marvel is 

 not only content with its beauty, but further is of service to mankind in 

 giving us most efficacious aid." 



According to Provancher (Faune Canadienne), the larvae of the 

 Chrysopa live in the open air on plants, and feed on plant lice (Aphides) 

 or Chermes larvae. The perfect insect lays its eggs on long slender pedicels 

 which it attaches to the twigs and leaves of trees. 



The body of the Chrysopae, which are also named "Laced-winged 

 Flies," is soft and tender. All the species are green, of a more or less dark 



