D. Thierry et al., VARIATION IN THE OVERWINTERING ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS IN THE COMMON GREEN LACEWING WEST-PALEARCTIC COMPLEX (NEUROPTERA, CHRYSOPIDAE), Acta oecologica, 15(5), 1994, pp. 593-606
The common green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) actually consi
sts of a complex of sympatric forms whose taxonomic status is not yet
clarified. In the study area (Loire valley), three of such forms are f
ound: carnea Stephens, kolthoffi Navas and lucasina Lacroix, distingui
shable on morphological basis.The study of temporal changes in overwin
tering sites has revealed marked differences between the three forms.
Carnea overwinters in rolled dry leaves and in ivy tufts, whereas kolt
hoffi is preferentially found indoors. In spring, the two forms coexis
t for some weeks in both dry leaves and ivy. At the end of spring, in
bush and tree vegetation, only the kolthoffi is to be found in general
. The more southerly lucasina form is only found in ivy in winter. The
examination of ovarian condition of the numerically prevailing forms,
carnea and kolthoffi, has shown a progressive recovery of reproductiv
e activity along the studied period: the proportion of inseminated fem
ales, very low in January, nearly reaches 100% at the end of April and
the recovery of vittelogenesis starting in April, is ended by the fir
st two weeks of May. A delay of two weeks is however observed between
carnea and kolthoffi in the gradual recovery of reproductive activity.
The brief coexistence in the same habitat and the observed delay of r
eproductive activity apparently contribute to reduce gene flow between
the three forms. Non typical specimens collected, at least in part co
rresponding to the progeny of inter-form laboratory crosses, represent
only less than 8% of the total sample, suggesting a low gene exchange
. The overall differences observed, both morphological and ecophysiolo
gical, are consistent with a specific status for these forms. As the t
hree species may well show differences in trophic resources and behavi
our has practical impact in the use of Ch. carnea sensu lato as effect
or in biological control, research on their effectiveness appears much
needed.