Numerical response of green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea on different preys (Aphis fabae and Acyrthosiphon pisum)

Abstract

Aphids can caused significant economic losses in agricultural productions because they have the ability of fast reproduction. In other hand, they are vector of several plant diseases and viruses. Therefore, in the scope of biological control studies, it is important to reveal the numerical responses of the species to determine the effect of green lacewing predator acting on aphids. In this study, the numerical response of Chrysoperla carnea on two aphids (Aphis fabae and Acyrthosiphon pisum) was tested, and the reproductive abilities of the green lacewing were determined. In the experiments, aphids at different densities (5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160) were offered to the development periods of the predator insect separately, and their development was recorded. The experiments were carried out in the laboratory at 26±1ºC and 60±5% Relative Humidity (RH). The development of predator, fecundity and numerical response parameters (Efficiency of Conversion of Ingested Food (ECI), Prey Usage Efficiency) were significant differences according to prey density. Finally, the ECI values were 142.15, 160.58, 184.99, 213.91, 229.48 and 199.44 for C. carnea fed on A. fabae, respectively; and 146.43, 173.09, 200.05, 214.04, 226.01 and 205.26 for C. carnea fed on A. pisum, respectively.