It wasn't until 1977 that Chrysoperla was elevated to a full genus by Y. Séméria, based on the combination of the absence of a gonapsis in males, lack of carrying a debris packet in larvae, and overwintering as an adult.

[2] This series of revisions further caused species to be moved between genera several times as the taxa, particularly Chrysopa and Chrysoperla, were being redefined.

It is typically separated from other such genera by the short intramedian cell (im), which doesn't overlap the first crossvein from the radial sector.

[6] Chrysoperla species may be identical in terms of morphology, but can be readily separated based on the vibration signals used to attract mates.

[6] For example, the southern European C. mediterranea looks almost identical to its northern relative C. carnea, but their courtship "songs" are very different; individuals of one species will not react to the other's vibrations.