Abstract
Results of studies on prey suitability for generalist predators are important for efficient mass rearing and implementing Integrated Pest Management Programmes (IPM). The green lacewing, Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder), is a polyphagous natural enemy attacking several pests on various crops in China. We investigated the effect of feeding it different species of prey on its pre-imaginal development, survival, adult longevity and fecundity under laboratory conditions. The prey species tested were nymphs of Aphis glycines Matsumura, cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover, peach aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer, corn aphid Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch and cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora Koch, and eggs of the rice grain moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainin. None of these species of prey affected the pre-imaginal survival or percentage survival of the eggs of the predator. However, eggs of C. cephalonica and nymphs of M. persicae and A. glycines were the best of the prey species tested, in that when fed on these species the pre-imaginal developmental period of C. sinica was shorter and its adult longevity, fecundity and percentage survival greater than when fed the other species of prey. In contrast, when fed nymphs of A. craccivora the pre-imaginal development period was longer, adult longevity shorter and fecundity lower. These findings could be helpful in defining more optimum conditions for the mass rearing of C. sinica for use in integrated pest management (IPM) programmes for various crops.
Highlights
Chrysopids feed on various aphid species, including Aphis glycines Matsumura (Ragsdale et al, 2011), Myzus persicae Sulzer (Pappas et al, 2007), Diuraphis noxia Mordvilko (Messina & Sorenson, 2001), Aphis gossypii Glover (Liu & Chen, 2001), Lipaphis erysimi Kalt. (Kumar & Singh, 2001), Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch (El-Serafi et al, 2000), Aphis craccivora Koch (Saminathan et al, 1999) and Monellia caryella Fitch (Liao et al, 1985)
The duration of pre-imaginal development in C. sinica was significantly affected by prey species and sex of the lacewing (F = 71.6500; df = 5226; P < 0.05 and (F = 48.7800; df = 1237; P < 0.05, respectively)
Larval developmental time did not differ significantly between males and females (Table 1) except for the 2nd instar larvae reared on A. glycines, 1st instar on M. persicae, and all three instars reared on R. maidis (1st to 3rd instar larvae) (t = 2.4124, df = 38, P < 0.05; t = 2.6816, df = 37, P < 0.05; t = 5.9074, df = 27.309, P < 0.05; t = 2.2876, df = 40, P < 0.05 and t = 4.3892, df = 27.309, P < 0.05, respectively)
Summary
Chrysopids feed on various aphid species, including Aphis glycines Matsumura (Ragsdale et al, 2011), Myzus persicae Sulzer (Pappas et al, 2007), Diuraphis noxia Mordvilko (Messina & Sorenson, 2001), Aphis gossypii Glover (Liu & Chen, 2001), Lipaphis erysimi Kalt. (Kumar & Singh, 2001), Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch (El-Serafi et al, 2000), Aphis craccivora Koch (Saminathan et al, 1999) and Monellia caryella Fitch (Liao et al, 1985). (Kumar & Singh, 2001), Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch (El-Serafi et al, 2000), Aphis craccivora Koch (Saminathan et al, 1999) and Monellia caryella Fitch (Liao et al, 1985). They feed on the eggs of Lepidoptera such as Corcyra cephalonica Stainin (Bansod & Sarode, 2000), Anagasta kuehniella Zeller (Zheng et al, 1993) and Sitotroga cerealella Olivier (López-Arroyo et al, 1999). Mass rearing techniques are still relatively inefficient It is important for the successful development of pest management programs that utilize C. sinica as a biocontrol agent to identify alternative high quality prey/food
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