Biology and Feeding Potential of Green Lacewing

Abstract

Laboratory studies were conducted on consumption of three prey species by the larvae of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea. The feeding potential of first instar larva of C. carnea was in decreasing order of Aphis craccivora, Drosophila melanogaster and
Corcyra cephalonica. The total number of prey species consumed by second and third instars o f C. carnea I arvae were i n the o rder o f A . craccivora > C. cephalonica > D. melanogaster and C. cephalonica > A. craccivora > D. melanogaster, respectively. Larval and cocoon periods of C. carnea were significantly affected due to difference in prey species. The total developmental periods of C. carnea (egg to adult) fed on different prey species ranged from 18.40 days (on C. cephalonica) to 21.35 days (on A. craccivora). The survival of C. carnea larvae fed on A. craccivora, D. melanogaster and C. cephalonica were 51.85, 80.95 and 86.67 per cent, respectively, whereas, cocoon weight increase were 11, 22 and 8 mg, respectively. C. carnea adult laid a maximum of 1079 eggs/ female when reared on C. cephalonica followed by D. melanogaster (582) eggs/female and A. craccivora (173 eggs/female). Oviposition period and oviposition per day were also significantly affected by the three prey species, while pre-oviposition and post-oviposition periods, hatchability and sex-ratio were not significantly affected. Based on these studies, C. cephalonica and D. melanogaster appear to be promising for mass production of the predator, C. carnea.