Photograph courtesy of Hamish Robertson, South African Museum

The Green Lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) of South Africa

Compiled by Mervyn W. Mansell

© Copyright of this page belongs to the author.
Yours is the access since 1st January 2000


Family: CHRYSOPIDAE Schneider, 1851 (green lacewings)

  1. Genus: PAMOCHRYSA Tjeder, 1966: 246
    1. P. stellata Tjeder
      Pamochrysa stellata Tjeder, 1966: 250
      South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal.
      March

  2. Genus: KIMOCHRYSA Tjeder, 1966: 254
    1. K. africana (Kimmins)
      Hypochrysa africana Kimmins, 1937: 307
      Kimochrysa africana (Kimmins): Tjeder 1966: 259
      South Africa: Western Cape Province.
      August
    2. K. impar Tjeder
      Kimochrysa impar Tjeder, 1966: 256
      South Africa: Western Cape Province.
      March and April
    3. K. raphidioides Tjeder
      Hypochrysa raphidioides Hagen, 1866: 423 (nomen nudum)
      Kimochrysa raphidioides Tjeder, 1966: 261
      South Africa: Western Cape Province

    Subfamily: CHRYSOPINAE Esben-Petersen 1918

    Tribe: Belonopterygini Navás, 1913

  3. Genus: ITALOCHRYSA Principi, 1946
    1. I. amplipennis Tjeder
      Italochrysa amplipennis Tjeder, 1966: 286
      South Africa: Mpumalanga, Western Cape Province.
      February
    2. I. exilis Tjeder
      Italochrysa exilis Tjeder, 1966: 305
      South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Province, North-West Province, Mpumulanga. Mozambique;
      December
    3. I. falcata Tjeder
      Italochrysa falcata Tjeder, 1966: 293
      South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal;
      September and December
    4. I. fulvicornis Kimmins
      Italochrysa fulvicornis Kimmins, 1955: 4
      South Africa: Mpumalanga, Gauteng . Zimbabwe, Tanzania.
      December and February
    5. I. gigantea (McLachlan)
      Chrysopa gigantea McLachlan, 1867: 252
      = Nothochrysa finoti Navás, 1908: 405; Tjeder 1966: 268.
      = Nothochrysa neurodes Esben-Petersen, 1920: 510 (nec Rambur 1842); Tjeder 1966: 268.
      = Italochrysa soror Tjeder, 1966: 274, Hölzel (New synonymy)
      South Africa: Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Province, Free State Province, Mpumalanga. Swaziland.
      January to March
    6. I. impar (Navás)
      Nothochryysa impar Navás, 1912: 99
      Italochrysa impar (Navás): Tjeder 1966: 316
      South Africa: Mpumulanga, Northern Province. Zimbabwe, Zambia;
      July, October, December and March
    7. I. lyrata Tjeder
      Italochrysa lyrata Tjeder, 1966: 291
      South Africa: North-West Province. Zimbabwe;
      February
    8. I. mozambica (Walker)
      Chrysopa mozambica Walker, 1860: 184
      Italochrysa mozambica (Walker): Tjeder 1966: 303
      South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, to Mozambique;
      April or May
    9. I. neurodes (Rambur)
      Hemerobius neurodes Rambur, 1842: 428
      Chrysopa neurodes (Rambur): Schneider 1851: 149
      Nothochrysa neurodes (Rambur): McLachlan 1868: 208
      Italochrysa neurodes (Rambur): Tjeder 1966: 271
      South Africa: Western Cape Province;
      December
    10. I. okavangoensis Tjeder
      Italochrysa okavangoensis Tjeder, 1966: 308
      Namibia.
      September
    11. I. peringueyi (Esben-Petersen)
      Nothochrysa peringueyi Esben-Petersen, 1920: 511
      Italochrysa peringueyi (Esben-Petersen): Tjeder 1966: 277
      South Africa: Eastern Cape Province, Kwazulu-Natal, Mpumulanga, North-West Province, Northern Province. Zimbabwe.
      October to May
    12. I. rufostigma (McLachlan)
      Chrysopa rufostigma McLachlan, 1867: 253
      Nothochrysa rufostigma (McLachlan): McLachlan 1868: 208
      = Nothochrysa maculata Esben-Petersen, 1912: 270, Tjeder 1966: 310
      Italochrysa rufostigma (McLachlan): Tjeder 1966: 310
      South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal.
      September to April
    13. I. serrata Tjeder
      Italochrysa serrata Tjeder, 1966: 296
      Namibia.
      December
    14. I. similis Tjeder
      Italochrysa similis Tjeder 1966: 313
      Lesotho. South Africa: Eastern Cape Province, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Northern Cape Province;
      October to March
    15. I. turneri (Kimmins)
      Nothochrysa turneri Kimmins, 1948: 238
      Italochrysa turneri (Kimmins): Tjeder 1966: 319
      Namibia.
      October, December, March
    16. I. vansoni Tjeder
      Italochrysa vansoni Tjeder 1966: 282
      KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Northern Cape;
      November to April
    17. I. variegata (Burmeister)
      Chrysopa variegata Burmeister, 1839: 981
      Italochrysa variegata (Burmeister): Tjeder 1966: 299
      South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal. Mozambique, Comores;
      August to December, April and May
    18. I. zulu Tjeder
      Italochrysa zulu Tjeder 1966: 281
      = Italochrysa vansoni Tjeder, 1966: 282; Hölzel (New synonymy)
      Namibia. South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Northern Cape;
      November to April

  4. Genus: DYSOCHRYSA Tjeder 1966
    1. D. furcata Tjeder
      Dysochrysa furcata Tjeder 1966: 338
      = Dysochrysa reflexa Tjeder 1966: 341; Hölzel (New synonymy)
      South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng. Northern Province;
      September, October and May, June

  5. Genus: NESOCHRYSA Navás, 1910: 53
    = OVIDEUS Navás, 1913: 326; Brooks & Barnard 1990: 177
    = MADACHRYSA Navás, 1934: 62; Brooks & Barnard 1990: 177
    1. N. illotus Tjeder
      Oviedus illotus Tjeder, 1966: 333
      Nesochrysa illotus (Tjeder): Brooks & Barnard 1990: 267
      Zimbabwe.
      October
    2. N. rubeolus (Tjeder)
      Ovideus rubeolus Tjeder, 1966: 332
      Nesochrysa rubeolus (Tjeder): Brooks & Barnard 1990: 267
      South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal.
      May
    3. N. ruficeps (Tjeder)
      Oviedus ruficeps Tjeder, 1966: 325
      Nesochrysa ruficeps (Tjeder): Brooks & Barnard 1990: 267
      Zimbabwe.
      October and February
    4. N. virgatus Tjeder
      Oviedus virgatus Tjeder, 1966: 329
      Nesochrysa virgatus (Tjeder): Brooks & Barnard 1990: 267.
      South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal.
      December and March

  6. Genus: TURNEROCHRYSA Kimmins 1935: 576
    1. T. mirifica Kimmins
      Turnerochrysa mirifica Kimmins, 1935: 577
      Namibia;
      November

  7. Genus: APERTOCHRYSA Tjeder, 1966: 480
    1. A. eurydera (Navás)
      Chrysopa eurydera Navás, 1910: 43
      = Chrysopa madegassa Navás, 1923: 69: Hölzel & Ohm 1992: 172
      = Chrysopa icterica Esben-Petersen, 1927: 450: Hölzel & Ohm 1992: 172
      = Chrysopa crassinervis Esben-Petersen, 1927: 452: Hölzel & Ohm 1992: 172
      Apertochrysa eurydera (Navás): Hölzel & Ohm 1992: 172
      Namibia.

  8. Genus: CERATOCHRYSA Tjeder, 1966: 352; Barnard & Brooks 1984: 361
    1. C. ceratina (Navás)
      Chrysopa ceratina Navás, 1910: 44
      Chrysopa (Ceratochrysa) ceratina Navás: Tjeder 1966: 353
      Ceratochrysa ceratina (Navás): Barnard & Brooks 1984: 368
      South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Northern Province. Mozambique.
      October, December, March and April
    2. C. antica (Walker)
      Chrysopa antica Walker, 1853: 270
      Ceratochrysa antica (Walker): Brooks & Barnard 1984: 366.
      = Chrysopa (Ceratochrysa) atrostrata Tjeder, 1966: 358, 1966: 358
      Ceratochrysa atrostrata (Tjeder): Brooks & Barnard 1984: 368; Brooks 1986: 83
      South Africa: Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North-West Province. Mali, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zaire, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius.

  9. Genus: BRINCKOCHRYSA Tjeder, 1966
    1. B. chlorosoma (Navás)
      Chrysopa chlorosoma Navás, 1914: 35
      Brinckochrysa chlorosoma (Navás): Ohm & Hölzel 1992: 294
      = Chrysopa michaelseni Esben-Petersen, 1928: 219
      Chrysopa (Brinckochrysa) michaelseni Esben-Petersen: Tjeder 1966: 365
      Brinckochrysa michaelseni (Esben-Petersen): Hölzel 1980: 172; Ohm & Hölzel 1992: 294
      South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal. Namibia; Somalia, Cape Verde Islands, Sudan, Europe.
      December, February
    2. B. turkanensis (Navás)
      Chrysopa turkanensis Navás, 1936: 115
      Brinckochrysa turkanensis (Navás): Hölzel 1987: 265
      = Chrysopa (Brinckochrysa) peri Tjeder, 1966: 361; Hölzel 1987: 265
      South Africa: Northern Cape Province. Namibia.
      November, February, April and June
    3. Brinckochrysa stenoptera (Navás)
      Chrysopa stenoptera Navás, 1910: 46
      Chrysopa (Brinckochrysa) stenoptera Navás: Tjeder 1966: 368
      Brinckochrysa stenoptera (Navás): Hölzel 1987: 265
      = Chrysopa mozambica Navás, 1931: 105; Hölzel 1987: 265
      South Africa: Western Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, North-West Province, Northern Province. Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia;
      October, December, February to May
    4. Brinckochrysa tjederi Hölzel
      Brinckochrysa tjederi Hölzel, 1987: 261
      South Africa: Mpumulanga, Northern Province, North-West Province.
      February.
    5. Brinckochrysa pulchella Hölzel
      Brinckochrysa pulchella Hölzel, 1987: 266


  10. Genus: GLENOCHRYSA Esben-Petersen 1920
    1. G. principissa (Navás)
      Cintameva principissa Navás, 1915: 27
      Glenochrysa principissa (Navás): Esben-Petersen 1920: 520
      Chrysopa (Glenochrysa) principissa (Navás): Tjeder 1966: 412
      South Africa: Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal. Mozambique, Tanzania, Somalia.
      October, December and January

  11. Genus: CHRYSEMOSA Brooks & Barnard, 1990: 198
    1. C. commixta Tjeder
      Chrysopa (Suarius) commixta Tjeder, 1966: 386
      Suarius commixta (Tjeder): Hölzel 1990: 23
      Chrysemosa commixta (Tjeder): Brooks & Barnard 1990: 199
      Zimbabwe;
      January
    2. C. jeanneli Navás
      Chrysopa jeanneli Navás, 1914: 36
      = Chrysopa ellenbergeri Navás, 1921: 68; Tjeder 1966:
      Chrysopa (Suarius) jeanneli (Navás): Tjeder 1966:
      Suarius jeanneli (Navás): Hölzel 1990: 23
      Chrysemosa jeanneli (Navás): Brooks & Barnard 1990: 199
      South Africa: Western Cape Province, Eastern Cape Province, Free State Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North-West Province, Northern Cape Province. Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya;
    3. C. kannemeyeri Esben-Petersen
      Chrysopa kannemeyeri Esben-Petersen 1920: 516
      = Chrysopa ignobilis Navás 1921: 72 (nec Walker 1860)
      = Chrysopa tarsalis Navás 1927: 6
      = Chrysopa instabilis Navás 1934: 54 (nec Navás 1925)
      Eastern Cape, Free State, Lesotho and Gauteng;
      October to March
    4. C. parva Tjeder
      Chrysopa (Suarius) parva Tjeder, 1966: 380
      Suarius parva (Tjeder): Hölzel 1990: 23
      Chrysemosa parva (Tjeder): Brooks & Barnard 1990: 199
      South Africa: Northern Cape Province.
      November and February

  12. Genus: BORNIOCHRYSA Brooks & Barnard, 1990: 192
    1. B. squamosa (Tjeder)
      Chrysopa (Suarius) squamosa Tjeder, 1966: 377.
      Suarius squamosa (Tjeder): Séméria & Quilici 1986:
      Borniochrysa squamosa (Tjeder): Brooks & Barnard 1990: 268
      South Africa: Western Cape Province, Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Northern Province. Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Réunion, Mauritius, Congo.
      July, September, October, January to May

  13. Genus: CHRYSOPERLA Steinmann 1964
    1. C. comans (Tjeder)
      Chrysopa (Chrysoperla) comans Tjeder, 1966: 408
      Chrysoperla comans (Tjeder): Hölzel 1989: 175
      = Chrysoperla manselli Hölzel, 1989: 175; Brooks 1994: 158.
      South Africa: Gauteng. Zimbabwe; Kenya.
      January
    2. C. congrua (Walker)
      Chrysopa congrua Walker, 1853: 238
      = Chrysopa concolor Walker, 1853: 239; Tjeder 1966: 392
      = Chrysopa bequaerti Navás, 1912: 409; Esben-Petersen 1928: 218
      Chrysoperla congrua (Walker): Séméria & Quilici 1986: 110
      Other synonyms in Brooks (1994: 164)
      South Africa: Eastern Cape Province, Free State Province, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Northern Province. Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Congo, Cameroons Siera Leoné; Cosmopolitan (see Brooks (1994: 165))
      October, December to May
    3. C. plicata (Tjeder)
      Chrysopa (Chrysoperla) plicata Tjeder, 1966: 406
      Chrysoperla plicata (Tjeder): Hölzel 1989: 168
      South Africa, Zimbabwe; Mozambique, Senegal, Gambia, Somalia, Zaire, Zambia.
      October
    4. C. pudica (Navás)
      Chrysopa pudica Navás, 1914: 82
      Chrysopa (Chrysoperla) pudica (Navás): Ohm & Hölzel 1982: 160
      See Brooks (1994: 161) for synonyms.
      South Africa: Western Cape Province, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North-Western Province, Northern Province, Northern Cape Province. Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia; St. Helena, Zambia, Senegal
      June, Spetember, November to April
    5. C. zastrowi (Esben-Petersen)
      Chrysopa zastrowi Esben-Petersen 1928: 220
      = Chrysopa bequarti Navás 1914 (nec Navás 1912)
      Chrysopa (Chrysoperla) zastrowi (Esben-Petersen): Tjeder 1966: 402
      Chrysoperla zastrowi (Esben-Petersen): Hölzel 1989: 167
      South Africa: Western Cape Province, Eastern Cape Province, Free State Province, Northern Cape Province. Lesotho, Ascension Island, St. Helena, Somalia, Sudan, Zambia Namibia;
      September to November, January to March

  14. Genus: MALLADA Navás, 1925; 24
    = ANISOCHRYSA Nakahara, 1955: 145; Adams 1975: 172
    1. M. atrosparsa Tjeder
      Chrysopa atrosparsa Tjeder 1966: 469
      Eastern Cape;
      October
    2. M. baronissa Navás
      Cintameva baronissa Navás 1921: 73
      Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Province, to Zimbabwe and Kenya;
      September, November, December, February and March
    3. M. boninensis Okamoto
      = Mallada desjardinsi (Navás)
      = Chrysopa desjardinsi Navás, 1911: 267.
      Chrysopa boninensis Okamoto 1914: 62: Hölzel & Ohm 1992: 176
      = Chrysopa serrandi Navás, 1923: 17: Hölzel & Ohm 1992: 176
      = Chrysopa rutila Esben-Petersen 1927: 453: Tjeder 1966: 476
      = Chrysopa obliqua Navás 1929: 362
      = Chrysopa flavostigma Esben-Petersen, 1927: 451: Hölzel & Ohm 1992: 177
      = Chrysopa inclinata Navás, 1934: 58: Hölzel & Ohm 1992: 177
      = Mallada scolius Navás, 1928: 86: Hölzel & Ohm 1991: 53
      Chrysopa (Anisochrysa) boninensis (Okamoto): Tjeder 1966
      Anisochrysa boninensis (Okamoto): Ohm & Hölzel 1982: 160
      Mallada boninensis (Okamoto): Hölzel 1990
      = Mallada desjardinsi (Navás): Brooks & Barnard 1990: 273.
      Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng, to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Congo, Guinea, Cape Verde, to Japan, and the Chagos Islands;
      August to December, February and April
    4. M. burgeonina Navás
      = Chrysopa chloris Esben-Petersen 1920: 515 (nec Chrysopa chloris Schneider 1851)
      Chrysopa burgeonina Navás 1936: 351
      Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and Northern Cape, to Mozambique and Congo;
      July to March
    5. M. chloris Schneider
      Chrysopa chloris Schneider 1851: 95
      Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal;
      September, November, January to April
    6. M. gunvorae Tjeder
      Chrysopa gunvorae Tjeder 1966: 465
      Mpumalanga;
      March to May
    7. M. hamata Tjeder
      Chrysopa hamata Tjeder 1966: 434
      KwaZulu-Natal;
      January and April

  15. Genus: DICHOCHRYSA
    1. D. handschini (Navás)
      Chrysopa handschini Navás, 1929: 444
      = Chrysopa collarti Navás, 1931: 128
      Mallada handschini (Navás): Brooks & Barnard 1990: 273
      = Cintameva alluaudi Navás, 1930: 8; Holzel & Ohm 1992: 177
      Dichochrysa handschini (Navás): Ohm & Hölzel 1997: 232
      South Africa, Western Cape Province; Mozambique; Congo;
      January and February
    2. D. incrassata Tjeder
      Chrysopa incrassata Tjeder 1966: 451
      Western Cape;
      September
    3. D. ingae Tjeder
      Chrysopa ingae Tjeder 1966: 446
      Gauteng;
      March
    4. D. luaboensis Tjeder
      Chrysopa luaboensis Tjeder 1966: 457
      Mozambique;
      August and October
    5. D. nyassalandica Navás
      Chrysopa myassalandica [sic] Navás 1914: 84
      KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, to Zimbabwe and Malawi;
      December and March
    6. D. perpallida Tjeder
      Chrysopa perpallida Tjeder 1966: 454
      Lesotho;
      January and March
    7. D. pervenosa Tjeder
      Chrysopa pervenosa Tjeder 1966: 463
      Zimbabwe;
      September, February and April
    8. D. pulchrina Tjeder
      Chrysopa pulchrina Tjeder 1966: 471
      KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Province, to Zimbabwe;
      February and April
    9. D. sjoestedti Weele
      Chrysopa sjoestedti Weele 1909:19
      = Chrysopa nubilata Navás 1910: 45
      = Chrysopa inopina Navás 1914: 83
      = Chrysopa burgeoni Navás 1929: 103
      = Chrysopa umbrosa Navás 1936: 115 (nec Chrysopa umbrosa Navás 1914)
      KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, to Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Congo;
      September, November and May
    10. D. spissinervis Tjeder
      Chrysopa spissinervis Tjeder 1966: 448
      Western Cape and Northern Cape, to Zimbabwe;
      September, December, February to April
    11. D. tacta Navás
      Chrysopa tacta Navás 1921: 71
      = Chrysopa hörcheri Esben-Petersen 1928
      Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, to Namibia;
      August to December, February to April and June
    12. D. venosella Esben-Petersen
      Chrysopa venosella Esben-Petersen 1920: 459
      Lesotho and Gauteng;
      October, November, January and March

      Subgenus: APERTOCHRYSA Tjeder

    13. D. umbrosa Navás
      Chrysopa umbrosa Navás 1914: 34
      Mozambique and Kenya;
      September

      Incertae sedis

    14. C. aculeata Tjeder
      Chrysopa aculeata Tjeder 1966: 491
      KwaZulu-Natal;
      October
    15. C. basuto Tjeder
      Chrysopa basuto Tjeder 1966: 489
      Lesotho;
      January
    16. C. caffer Tjeder
      = Chrysopa chloris Schneider 1851: 95 (female, not male)
      Chrysopa caffer Tjeder 1966: 484
      Western Cape and Eastern Cape;
      September, November and January
    17. C. zulu Tjeder
      Chrysopa zulu Tjeder 1966: 487
      KwaZulu-Natal;
      February and April

  16. Genus: ANKYLOPTERYX Brauer 1864
    = LEUCOCHRYSA Fraser 1951

      Subgenus: ANKYLOPTERYX Brauer 1864

    1. A. grata Tjeder
      Ankylopteryx grata Tjeder 1966: 504
      KwaZulu-Natal;
      August, March and April
    2. A. pallidula Tjeder
      Ankylopteryx pallidula Tjeder 1966: 501
      Mozambique;
      October
    3. A. pellucida Tjeder
      Ankylopteryx pellucida Tjeder 1966: 502
      Northern Province;
      May
    4. A. pusilla Tjeder
      Ankylopteryx pusilla Tjeder 1966: 506
      Mozambique;
      August
    5. A. venusta (Hagen)
      Chrysopa venusta Hagen 1853: 481
      KwaZulu-Natal, to Mozambique and Tanzania;
      April

      Subgenus: PARANKYLOPTERYX Tjeder 1966

    6. A. neavei Navás
      Ancylopteryx neavei Navás 1913: 93
      = Ancylopteryx verdcourti Kimmins 1951: 137
      Western Cape, to Zambia, Kenya and Uganda;
      January

    Subfamily: APOCHRYSINAE Handlirsch 1908

  17. Genus: ANAPOCHRYSA Kimmins 1952
    1. A. voeltzkowi (Van der Weele)
      Leucochrysa voeltzkowi Van der Weele, 1909: 67
      Oligochrysa voeltzkowi (Van der Weele): Esben-Petersen 1927: 446
      Anapochrysa africana Kimmins, 1952: 933(?); Hölzel & Ohm 1992: 171
      Anapochrysa voeltzkowi (Van der Weele): Hölzel & Duelli 1990: 275
      South Africa: Western Cape Province, Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal. Kenya, Tanzania, Sao Tomé Madagascar.
      January, March and June

  18. Genus: APOCHRYSA Schneider, 1851
    1. A. leptalea (Rambur)
      Hemerobius leptaleus Rambur, 1842: 429
      South Africa: Western Cape Province and Eastern Cape Province.
      November and January


This part of A Catalogue of South African Insects revised: