Synonyms
= Chrysopa mozambica Navás, 1931
= Brinckochrysa sigwalti Séméria, 1984
Diagnosis
This species can be separated from B. pulchella by the basal dilation of tarsal claws, and by characters of the male genitalia. In B. stenoptera the base of the ventrolateral extension of the ectoproct is acutely pointed, rather than flattened, and the entoprocesses remain widely separated , while with B. pulchella they come close together at mid-length.
"A number of available specimens which I consider to belong to this species show very great variability in size and colour. Length of forewings in males: 8-10 mm; in females: 9-11. The colour of recently collected, not discoloured specimens is almost entirely green with a dorsal yellowish median stripe on thorax and faint red suffusions on head and sometimes towards the lateral margins of pronotum. In a few specimens the venation of forewing is partly infuscated, some costals being darkened at Sc, base of Rs and some basal radial crossveins darkened as also some of the inner gradates. The number of branches from Rs is very variable and thus also the number of gradates, in forewings 4/4-6/8, in the hindwings 2/3-5/8." Bo Tjeder (1966).
Type Depository
of Brinckochrysa stenoptera is MNHN, Paris.
of Chrysopa mozambica is MNHN, Paris.
of Brinckochrysa sigwalti is MNHN, Paris.
Type Locality
of Brinckochrysa stenoptera is: MOZAMBIQUE: Vallée du Pungoue, Guengère, G. Vasse, 1906, 1 female.
of Chrysopa mozambica is MOZAMBIQUE: Env. de Vila Pery, Reg. du Mt. Malenge (Vandouzi), P. Lesne, 1928, 1 male.
of Brinckochrysa sigwalti is SENEGAL: Kedougou, 3-31 October 1980, Sigwalt, 1 male.
Geographical Distribution
Tjeder (1966) mentions this species from SOUTH AFRICA, MOZAMBIQUE, ZIMBABWE, and NAMIBIA. Hölzel (1987) added records from NIGERIA, GAMBIA, and SENEGAL. There are two males in the CAS collection from ANGOLA. Hölzel & Ohm (1992) indicated a distribution in MADAGASCAR for the first time, but without specific locality records.
Temporal Distribution
October to May.
Elevation
In South Africa from 700 to 1200 m.
References
Hölzel, H. 1987. Descriptions of two new Brinckochrysa species from South Africa, with taxonomic notes on other African species of the genus (Neuropteroidea: Planipennia: Chrysopidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 50:261-268. 18 figures.
Hölzel, H. and Ohm, P. 1992. Zoogeographical features of Madagascan Chrysopidae (Insecta: Neuroptera). Pp. 167-181 in Canard, M.; Aspöck, H.; Mansell, M. W. (eds.). Current Research in Neuropterology. Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Neuropterology (24-27 June 1991, Bagnères-de-Luchon, Haute-Garonne, France). Privately printed, Toulouse, France. 414 pp. 8 figures. 1 table.
Navás, L. 1931. Insectos del Museo de París. 7.a série. Brotéria (ZoolÓgica) 27:101-113. 5 figures [#50-54].
Séméria, Y. 1984. Chrysopides du M.N.H.N. à Paris. Espèces du Sénégal: 1. [Neuroptera]. Revue Française d'Entomologie (N.S.)6:21-23. 6 figures.
Tjeder, B. 1966. Neuroptera-Planipennia. The Lace-wings of Southern Africa. 5. Family Chrysopidae. Pp. 228-534 in South African Animal Life, B. Hanström, P. Brinck and G. Rudebec, eds. Vol. 12. Swedish Natural Science Research Council, Stockholm. 1097 figures [#784-1880].