Vol. 59 
PSYCHE 
No. 2 
June, 1952 
INHERITANCE OF SOME VARIETAL CHARACTERS 
IN CHRYSOPA OCULATA SAY (NEUROPTERA: 
CHRYSOPIDAE) * 
By William E. Bickley 
College Park, Maryland 
Varieties of Chrysopa oculata Say are distinguished by 
the degree of darkness of wing veins and by color patterns, 
chiefly markings on the genae, vertex, and pronotum. Most 
of the varieties are species synonyms. C. albicornis Fitch, 
which has dark cross veins, and C. chlorophana Burm., 
which has green cross veins, were placed under C. oculata 
Say by Smith (1922). One of several reasons for doing 
so was the fact that the forms readily cross. 
Smith (1932 and 1934) recognized five varieties which 
have different color patterns on the vertex. In caret Smith, 
spots on the vertex are absent. In xanthocephala Fitch 
there are two black or brown spots in the antennal band 
or closely connected with it; but if the two spots are not 
connected with the antennal band the form is called bipunc- 
ata Fitch. Variety oculata Say has four dark spots on the 
vertex (pi. 5, A). In illepida Fitch there are two elongate 
bands; in other words the spots on each side are fused 
(Pi. 5, B). 
When large numbers of Chrysopa oculata are examined 
it is found that some specimens cannot be placed in the 
recognized categories. A good example is a form in which 
the vertex has two spots on one side and an elongate band 
on the other (pi. 5, C). In an attempt to clarify the status 
of some of the varieties, an investigation was made of 
the inheritance of some characters upon which varieties 
are based. 
* Scientific Art. No. A357, Contribution No. 2338 of the Maryland 
Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Entomology. Dr. 
Sumner O. Burhoe, Professor of Zoology, University of Maryland aided 
in interpreting the possible genetic status of the varieties. 
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