1952] 
Bickley — Inheritance in Chrysopa 
45 
form is still called separata. There are various degrees in 
reduction of width of this connecting band, and in this 
case it appears that the character is so subtle that it is not 
reliable. 
Because of inconsistencies and intergradations in color 
patterns and because the genetic status of some of the 
varietal characters is at least partially understood, it seems 
reasonable to conclude that the varietal names are no 
longer of any value. The avoidance of the term variety 
where it lacks real meaning is one of the principles set 
forth by Ferris (1928). If this principle is applied the 
work of the taxonomist will be simplified. He no longer has 
a problem when he is confronted with borderline cases 
such as individuals with spots on one side of the vertex and 
a band on the other, and specimens with the face as in 
separata , the vertex as in illepida, and the wings as in albi- 
cornis. 
Pairing 
No. of 
Total 
oculata 
illepida 
Borderline 
Pairs 
Off- 
No. 
% 
No. % 
No. 
% 
spring 
A 
oc(oc) 
X 
oc(oc) 
5 
84 
84 
100 
B 
oc(oc) 
X 
oc(ill) 
2 
83 
78 
94 
4 
5 
1 
1 
C 
oc(ill) 
X 
oc(ill) 
1 
11 
10 
91 
1 
9 
D 
oc(oc) 
X 
ill (ill) 
2 
59 
48 
81 
11 
19 
E 
oc(ill) 
X 
ill (ill) 
1 
60 
39 
65 
21 
35 
F 
ill (ill) 
X 
ill (ill) 
1 
18 
9 
50 
8 
44 
1 
6 
Table 1. Inbreeding and crossing of two varieties of Chrysopa oculata 
(Say) ; oc(oc) indicates oculata from an oculata female; oc(ill) indi- 
cates oculata from an illepida female; ill (ill) indicates illepida from an 
illepida female. 
Summary 
Two varieties of Chrysopa oculata Say were reared, in- 
bred, and interbred, namely, the common oculata, which 
has four spots on the vertex, and illepida, which has two 
elongate bands on the vertex. Twelve second generation 
pairings were made and 315 offspring obtained. All of 
these pairings resulted in high percentages of oculata. It 
is, therefore, concluded that the genes responsible for this 
character are more prevalent. However, oculata is not a 
