Towards better biological control: A checklist of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) in California, United States of America

The selection of biological control agents is a fundamental step for their successful implementation, with the optimal species choice potentially varying over time with host preference, climatic suitability, and other local factors. Species of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) are widely used in agriculture, especially members of the Chrysoperla carnea-group. The green lacewing family also exhibits cryptic diversity and species-specific courtship songs, with other species potentially more effective choices under certain conditions. Documenting the diversity and biological characteristics of chrysopids is an important step in selecting ideal candidates for research and pest management. Here, we present a checklist of Chrysopidae reported in California, USA, compiling all known records to date. Specimen data were collected from databases and scientific literature. In California, a total of five genera and sixteen species have been reported. The subfamily Chrysopinae includes fifteen species distributed among the genera Chrysopa (2 spp.), Chrysoperla (11 spp.), Kymachrysa (1 sp.), and Meleoma (1 sp.), while the subfamily Nothochrysinae is represented only by Nothochrysa. Each species record includes information on the counties in California where it has been reported, along with details about the associated systems, such as agricultural and natural settings. This species list forms the basis for current and planned research to evaluate new green lacewing species for use in biological control programs in local agriculture.