CERAEOCHRYSA PLACITA (NEUROPTERA, CHRYSOPIDAE) - GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LARVAE, LARVAL DESCRIPTIONS, AND LIFE-CYCLE

The 3 instars of Ceraeochrysa placita (Banks) express all the traits t hat typify trash-carrying lacewing larvae in the tribe Chrysopini: sho rt, broad bodies; thorax with elongate, setaceous tubercles; abdomen h umped, bearing hooked setae dorsally. Based on our comparison of C. pl acita larvae with descriptions of larvae in other trash-carrying chrys opine genera we propose a tentative definition of Ceraeochrysa larvae. In addition, to aid in identifying C. placita larvae, we list a serie s of tl aits that distinguishes C. placita from previously described N ew World trash-carrying chrysopines. One of these traits appears uniqu e to C. placita: in addition to the 2 or 3 long setae that typically o ccur at the apes of the dorsolateral thoracic tubercles of all chrysop ine Ist instars, on C. placita each tubercle also bears a short, stout seta apically. Whether this trait is apomorphic for Ceraeochrysa, or for C. placita, is an open question. Finally, we present ii series of biological traits that distinguishes C. placita. Eggs are laid on the trunks of medium- to large-sized trees, which are also feeding sites f or prediapause larvae. It has a univoltine life cycle, and the 2nd ins tar is the overwintering stage. Photoperiod strongly influences the li fe cycle: short daylengths retard development in Ist instars. induce d iapause in 2nd instars, and may have a role ill postdiapause developme nt. Compared with other chrysopids, C. placita's incubation :ind preov iposition periods are long.