Comparative Study of Different Diets Efficiency on Some Biological Parameters of <I>Chrysoperla carnea</I> (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Abstract

Green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) is a major, cosmopolitan predator of different pests. This study surveyed relative consumption of three diets: eggs of flour moth, Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), artificial diet (consists of honey, yeast and water), and semi artificial diet (consists of honey, essential amino acid, Hen’s yolk egg powder, extracting of flour moth’s body, A, D, E and B vitamin groups, yeast and water), on developmental time (T),weight, longevity and mortality percentage of larvae and pupae and fecundity, fertility and sex ratio of female. All experiments were conducted at (25±5)℃, (60±5)% RH, and photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D).Results showed significant differences (p<0.01) between diets in different parameters except for egg Incubation period and sex ratio. The lowest developmental time (T) 29.79±1.57 (day) was belonged to semi artificial diet. Larvae and pupae longevity were 12.29±0.29, 8.08±0.39; 19.46±0.76, 3.77±0.74 and 10.07±0.3, 7.15±0.34 (days) in diets respectively. The lowest and highest mortality percentage of larvae and pupae on semi artificial and artificial diets were 4%, 0%, 42% and 38% respectively. The highest weights of larvae and pupae (3.68±0.25 mgr and 9.46±0.16 mgr) were observed on semi artificial diet. The fecundity and fertility rates were 410.25±9.33, 150±4.02 and 470.25±9.8; 370.98±6.7, 94.5±3 and 383.83±4.6 (egg/female) respectively. According to these results the semi artificial diet was the most accurate diet for mass rearing of predator.