Rediscovery of the myrmecophilous larvae of Italochrysa italica (Insecta: Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Abstract

The larvae of Italochrysa italica (Rossi, 1790) were observed in nature for the first time since the original observations by Principi in the 1940s. Several larvae of this species were found in different nests of the arboreal ant Crematogaster scutellaris (Olivier, 1792) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in dead oaks in the Italian Apennines. The present observations agree with the few previous studies on the behaviour of Italochrysa Principi, 1946 species and confirm that the larvae of I. italica spend most of their time within ant nests. The chrysopid larvae were found in loose aggregations within the nest, sometimes just outside the brood chamber. Italochrysa larvae adopt a static behaviour, avoiding ants and using the packet of debris carried on the body to hide and protect themselves from them. The morphology of the larvae is also discussed.