Biological Characteristics of Chrysoperla carnea Steph. Fed on Two Prey Hosts Under Laboratory Conditions.

Abstract

Biological characteristics of the predator Chrysoperla carnea, aphid lion were studied in the laboratory at a temperature of. 25±1°C, 70±5% relative humidity, and 16:8 h of daily light / dark periods. two different preys were tested as hosts for C. carnea larvae. The predator larvae were fed on newly emerged larvae of pink bollworm, Pectinophera gossypiella,and adult members of Aphis craccivora, Cowpea aphid (2-3 days old), The results showed that the duration of larval and pupal period of predator was observed differences which recorded 8.46± 0.82 and 6.92± 0.86 days, respectively, when the predator larvae fed on PBW larvae, while recorded 8.25± 0.96 and 6± 0.15 days, respectively, when the predator larvae fed on adult aphids. The larval survival percentage was 88.1% and 90.2% respectively, while the emergence of the adult was 87.4% and 94.7% respectively, Data showed the incubation period of eggs was similar in two treatments, the duration of C. carnea females had higher than the duration of males. The percent of egg hatchability recorded a higher value 95.87% when the predator larvae fed on adult aphids and recorded 91.51% when its fed on PBW larvae.