Comparative Life Histories of the Predators Ceraeochrysa cincta, C. cubana, and C. smithi (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Abstract

The subtropical green lacewings Ceraeochrysa cincta (Schneider), C. cubana (Hagen), and C. smithi (Navas) share many aspects of their life histories; however, they differ in a suite of developmental and reproductive traits that appear very important ecologically and that have significant implications for biological control. All 3 species have trash-carrying larvae, and they complete preimaginal development (from egg to adult emergence) in approximately equal to 4 wk at 24 degrees C. The intrinsic rates of natural increase of the 3 species overlap considerably. Rates of development are related linearly to temperature, and there are no developmental delays that indicate preimaginal or reproductive diapause, even under short days (10:14 [L:D]h). Of the 3 species, C. cubana has the highest thermal thresholds for development, whereas those of C. smithi are the lowest. C. smithi lays its eggs in spiral clutches (approximately equal to 13 eggs per clutch) and its oviposition persists for a moderately long period (approximately equal to 26 d). Neither C. cinta nor C. cubana lays eggs in clutches. C. cincta has a high rate of oviposition (approximately equal to 17 eggs per day) and a relatively short oviposition period (approximately equal to 21 d). C. cubana has a lower rate of oviposition (approximately equal to 6 eggs per day), but a much longer oviposition period (approximately equal to 52 days) than the other species. Progress in the systematics and comparative biology of these and other Ceraeochrysa species will help implement the efficient mass-production, marketing, and use of this large and diverse group of predators in biological control. In turn, the low-cost availability of these species will diversify the arsenal of natural enemies and thus help expand the commercialization of biological control.