Ilustración en zoología que muestra las diferentes etapas del ciclo de vida y características clave de la de crisopa Nothochrysa fulviceps especie: 1. La morfología del adulto, destacando su patrón de coloración y la venación de sus alas. 2. La apariencia distintiva de la larva. 3. Los huevos pedunculados, característicos de la especie. 4. El comportamiento de camuflaje de la larva, conocida como "larva carga-basura" debido a su habilidad para cubrirse con restos del entorno. 5. La estructura del capullo. 6. Una vista lateral detallada del adulto.

The life cycle of the lacewing Nothochrysa fulviceps.

Nothochrysa fulviceps (Stephen, 1836) is a lacewing Insecta: Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) native to Europe. Its body can reach up to 15 mm long and has a color pattern that easily differentiates it from other lacewings (1). The life cycle of Nothochrysa fulviceps and its particular larva led me to illustrate it.

It lives in oak, maple, or coniferous forests in Europe and the United Kingdom, at several meters high, making it difficult to observe. In Spain, observers have found it mostly on the Melojo tree (Quercus pyrenaica). 

The female of this lacewing lays several stalked eggs on leaves or trunks (3). The larvae emerge from these eggs and go through 3 stages during their growth. These larvae are voracious predators that use their jaws to capture and suck prey (2), mainly small arthropods such as aphids, which is why they are used as biological pest control.

Like many other lacewing larvae, it uses a curious method of camouflage, placing different elements of the landscape such as remains of bark, leaves, or even remains of its prey, on its abdomen, which gives it its common name “garbage bug” (4).

After a few weeks, the larvae form a silk cocoon on leaves or trunks (5) where it transforms into a pupa. Later, an adult emerges from the cocoon (6), with nocturnal activity and feeding mainly on pollen, nectar and honeydew.

The rarity and habits of N. fulviceps limit the available information, but their study enriches knowledge about the biodiversity and ecology of European lacewings.

I made these illustrations and composition to participate in the 10th edition of the Scientific Illustration Award, awarded by IllustraCiencia.

Year: 2023
Technique: Digital illustration.
Illustration type: Scientific, realistic.
Type of project/Client: Personal.