Laboratory evidence for phenological adaptation in two insular populations of Chrysoperla agilis Henry, Brooks, Duelli & Johnson, 2003

Holarctic Chrysoperla carnea is a complex of sibling species known as the "Chrysoperla carnea complex", whose diverse courtship songs have led to the recognition of several cryptic species, including C. agilis Henry et al., 2003. The geographic range of C. agilis is westerly limited by Ma- deira and Azores. The climatic differences between the two archipelagos led us to investigate whether populations of the species have differentially adapted to local conditions. After considering the climatic conditions of the archipelagos, we chose 24 and 28 ºC to evaluate a large set of life cycle parameters. Our results indicate that the Azorean population performs well under both tem- peratures, whereas the one from Madeira had a clear preference for 24 ºC. The performance of both populations appears to be linked with local climatic conditions. Also, the Azorean population showed an overall greater breeding potential, perhaps linked to climatic instability of its environ- ment.