formerly Cc5 generator)  A widespread “nomadic” species in the Near and Middle East, from Israel in the west to Oman and beyond (see below) in the east, often but not always associated with a warm, dry climate.  As the name indicates, Cc5 from the Arabian peninsula is now considered a subspecies of C. zastrowi (Esben-P) from southern Africa (see next entry).   However, the taxonomic status of this subspecies was soon rendered uncertain.  In 2006-7, lacewings collected in southern India were found to sing the C. z. arabica song and to strongly resemble the latter in subtle morphological ways.  That finding suggests a range extension forC. z. arabica, east from Oman deep into the Indian subcontinent, where the climate is quite different.  However, the name given to “carnea-like” lacewings in India is Chrysoperla sillemi (Esben-Petersen), preserved specimens of which seem morphologically indistinguishable from C. z. arabica.  Such evidence was used to make C. z. arabica a junior synonym of C. z. sillemi (Esben-Petersen) in 2010 (documented in Henry, C. S., Brooks, S. J., Johnson, J. B., Venkatesan, T., & Duelli, P. (2010). The most important lacewing species in Indian agricultural crops, Chrysoperla sillemi (Esben-Petersen), is a subspecies of Chrysoperla zastrowi (Esben-Petersen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Journal of Natural History 44, 2543-2555.

Shown below are six SRUs, each consisting of a single long volley of abdominal vibration, which an insect typically produces repetitively.  In a duet, the partner would insert his or her SRU between the SRUs illustrated, resulting in a slower tempo of volley repetition.  Originally nicknamed for the tone-generator purity of its acoustical signal.

A complete description of this subspecies is found in Henry CS, Brooks SJ, Duelli P, Johnson JB. 2006. Courtship song of the South African lacewing Chrysoperla zastrowi (Esben-Petersen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): evidence for a trans-equatorial geographic range? Journal of Natural History 40: 2173-95.