Chrysopidae Research Articles

The Green Lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a successful predatory insect; augmented for bio control practices especially for Integrated Pest Management. It is observed that green lacewing C. carnea (Steph.) has good potential of predation and caught good attention for its successful use against sucking insect pests. Currently it was evaluated for the management of white fly Bemisia tabaci infesting cotton crop. The data shown that the predator reduced white fly B. tabaci population significantly. Overall maximum population reduction was recorded in T-1 Chemical Control (6.01±3.75/leaf) followed by T-2 Bio-Control (green lacewing C. carnea) (6.84±3.90/leaf) as compare with control (8.50±4.93/leaf) While maximum population of Whitefly B. tabaci (10.40±5.75/leaf) recorded in non Bt. Control (NIAB-78). Acetamaprid 20SL has good toxicity recoded minimum predatory population (0.04/plant) in T-1 (Chemical Control plot); maximum were observed (0.3/plant) in T2 Bio-Control (Green Lacewing C. carnea) released plot.

The path analysis of environmental factors affects the population dynamics of American Bollworm (ABW), Helicoverpa arecmigera (Hubner) Lepidoptera –Noctuidae was assessed at the Jawharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidhyalaya, Cotton Research Station, Khandwa M.P. The perusal of data on the population of American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera revealed that the pest was first come into view in the 28th SMW i.e. Ist week of July and remained active till 51st SMW (III week of December). The peak population level was observed during 35th SMW i.e. Ist week of September. The weather condition prevailed during the peak population viz. maximum temperature, minimum temperature, morning relative humidity, evening relative humidity, sunshine hours, wind velocity, rainfall and rainy day were 34.11°C, 25.49°C, 76.54%, 39.56%, 8.29 hours per day, 6.94 kmph, 18.50 mm and 0.50 days respectively. The simple correlation studies between American bollworm eggs population and weather factors revealed that the ABW Eggs population had a significant positive correlation with minimum temperature. The multiple regression computed with eleven parameters as independent variables and ABW population as dependent variables was as follow Y=72.7571.401X1+0.027X2+0.276X3+0.048X4+0.056X5+1.517X6-0.052X7-1.413X8-0.624X9+2.657X10-0.945X11 (R2=0.772). The Path coefficient analysis revealed that minimum temperature had positive and high direct effect on ABW egg population, followed by spider, morning relative humidity and green lacewing respectively.

BackgroundMetamorphosis remains one of the most complicated and poorly understood processes in insects. This is particularly so for the very dynamic transformations that take place within the pupal sheath of holometabolous insects. Only few studies address these transformations especially with regard to cranial structures of those holometabolous species where the larval and adult forms have a similar diet. It thus remains unclear to what extent the internal structures undergo histolysis and rebuilding. Here, the development of the brain and skeleto-muscular system of the head of Chrysopa pallens (Rambur, 1838) is studied. This species is a predator of aphids in the larval and adult stage.ResultsWe used micro-computed-tomography (μ-CT) to study the transformations of the larval, prepupal and pupal head within the cocoon. We first assessed the morphological differences and similarities between the stages. We then determined the point in time when the compound eyes appear and describe the re-orientation of the head capsule which transforms the prognathous larva into a hypognathous adult. The internal head muscles are distinctly more slender in larvae than adults. In addition, the adults have a significantly larger brain which is likely needed for the processing of the signals obtained by the adults vastly expanded sensory organs that are presumably needed for dispersal and mating. Our study shows that the histolysis and modification of the inner muscles and skeletal elements take place within the prepupa. The central nervous system persists throughout metamorphosis but its morphology changes significantly.ConclusionOur study reveals that not only the inner structures, but also the outer morphology continues to change after the final larval moult. The adult cuticle and internal structures form gradually within the cocoon. The histolysis and rebuilding begin with the skeletal elements and is followed by changes in the central nervous system before it concludes with modifications of the musculature. This order of events is likely ancestral for Holometabola because it is also known from Hymenoptera, Diptera, Mecoptera, and Coleoptera.

Botanical insecticides that degrade rapidly are safer than persistent synthetic chemical insecticides, less harmful to the environment, decrease production costs and are not likely to cause insecticide resistance among pests. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of five different botanical extracts on the bean aphid, Aphis craccivora and the 2nd larval instar of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea under laboratory conditions. Also, the flavonoids in the methanolic extracts of these tested plants were detected using HPLC analysis. The data from the HPLC analysis indicated that the tested plants differed in their flavonoid components. The total flavonoids were 869.4, 1125.6, 721.4, 1667.8 and 2025.9 mg/kg in Psiadia penninervia, Salvia officinalis, Ochradenus baccatus, Pulicaria crispa and Euryops arabicus, respectively. Moreover, there were many variations among these plants in the amount of each compound. The lethal concentration (LC50) value of P. penninervia extract on aphids was the lowest among all of the plants (128.546 µg/mL) followed by O. baccatus (626.461 µg/mL). Also, the LC50 value of P. penninervia extract on the 2nd larval instar of C. carnea (232.095 µg/mL) was significantly lower than those of all other four plant species extracts, while the other four plants did not show significant differences among them according to relative median potency analyses. Accordingly, O. baccatus extract had a strong effect on aphids and was safest for the predator. This finding suggests that O. baccatus could be exploited and further developed as an effective plant extract-based insecticide to be utilized in integrated pest management (IPM) programs against A. craccivora.

In a field-trapping experiment with plant volatiles, we observed notably high attraction of green lacewing (Chrysotropia ciliata) males to the compound p-anisaldehyde. Based on this finding, we initiated the present study to elucidate this phenomenon and to investigate the chemical ecology of C. ciliata. Scanning electron microscopy revealed elliptical glands abundantly distributed on the 2nd to 6th abdominal sternites of C. ciliata males, whereas females of the species completely lacked such glands. No p-anisaldehyde was found in extractions of body parts of C. ciliata. Methyl p-anisate and p-methoxybenzoic acid were identified exclusively in the extract from abdominal segments 2–8 of males. Field-trapping experiments revealed no attraction of C. ciliata to either methyl p-anisate or p-methoxybenzoic acid. In contrast, males showed marked attraction to p-anisaldehyde in the field and antennae showed strong responses to this compound. Headspace collections in the field from living insects in their natural environment and during their main daily activity period indicated that p-anisaldehyde was emitted exclusively by C. ciliata males. Our overall results suggest that p-anisaldehyde might serve as a male-produced pheromone that attracts conspecific C. ciliata males. Here, we discuss hypotheses regarding possible mechanisms involved in regulation of p-anisaldehyde production, including involvement of the compounds methyl p-anisate and p-methoxybenzoic acid, and the potential ecological function of p-anisaldehyde in C. ciliata.

Pest infestations in net-houses are not sometimes different from that under open-field conditions, necessitating usage of pesticides. To examine the hypothesis that bioagents may have more potential under restricted plant growing conditions, the predatory potential of green lace wing, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi Esben-Peterson (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) was evaluated against the sucking pests of tomato under screen-house conditions. The rates of release were fixed as 4, 5, and 6 s instar grubs plant−1 and a total of 3 releases were made at 7 days interval, with first release at appearance of the aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). The pooled data for the years 2018 and 2019 revealed that, the release rates 4, 5, and 6 grubs plant−1 were not statistically different in reducing the population of these pests. The factorial analysis based on the release rate and time of these releases suggested that single release of C. zastrowi sillemi at 4 grubs plant−1 was effective against sucking pests in tomato grown under screen-house conditions.

Faba bean is an important position between leguminous food crops in Egypt. A piercing-sucking pest associated with broad bean plants causes serious damage, directly by sucking plant juices or indirectly as the aphid insects are vectors to plant diseases. A field experiment was conducted at Wadi Elmalak, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt in winter growing seasons 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. To evaluate the population fluctuation of some piercing-sucking pests and the common natural enemies and relation to weather factors on broad bean plants. Results indicated that the important piercing-sucking pests, pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) were the most dominant, followed by Aphis craccivora Koch, while green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Thrips tabaci Lind. and Jassid, Empoasca discipiens Poali were found in low densities throughout the two seasons. The eleven spotted lady beetle, Coccinella undecimpunctata L., green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens), and seven-spotted lady beetle, Coccinella septempunctata L. are the most important predators which associated with the sucking insect pests on faba bean. The population fluctuation of piercing-sucking pests and associated predators were higher in the first season than in the second season. The pea aphid, A. pisum started with attacks broad bean in the second week of November and reached it has two peaks early January and in mid-May in the two successive years. The relationship between both of the population of piercing-sucking pests and associated predators and weather factors were studied. The loss in seed yield in the two successive seasons was evaluated all together being (330.0 kg. /fed). The avoidable losses in seeds yield were (19.18% per fed.) during two seasons

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.

This study was aimed at the identification of the Neuroptera (Insecta) obtained with McPhail traps in an orchard of native and exotic fruits in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil (21°14’S / 48°17’W). Weekly sampling took place between May 2009 and April 2010. 187 specimens of Neuroptera were obtained: Nusalala tessellata (Gerstaecker, 1888) (Hemerobiidae) (176 specimens / 94.1% of the total), Leucochrysa cruentata (Schneider, 1851) (6 / 3.2%), Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen, 1861), Ceraeochrysa everes (Banks, 1920), Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861), Leucochrysa affinis Freitas & Penny, 2001 and Leucochrysa rodriguezi (Navás, 1913) (Chrysopidae) (1 / 0.5%, each species). Nusalala tessellata was the most abundant species, with the highest frequencies recorded in August 2009 and March 2010; such frequencies coincided with the fructification of Vangueria madagascariensis Gmelin (Rubiaceae) and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Rutaceae), respectively. The use of McPhail traps can assist in the detection of beneficial insects in agroecosystems and establishment of better sustainable control measures.

The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a destructive pest on tomato, has invaded most Afro-Eurasian countries. Recently invaded by the pest, most tomato crops in greenhouses and open fields in Tajikistan are currently suffering major damage. While failure in management using chemical insecticide has been frequently observed, alternative options such as biological control is urgently needed. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the common green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) against T. absoluta. In controlled laboratory conditions, C. carnea showed high predation rate on both T. absoluta eggs (i.e., 36 ± 2 eggs within 24 h and 72 ± 4 eggs within 48 h) and larvae, especially it can attack the larvae both inside and outside the leaf galleries (i.e., an average of 22% of the larvae was killed inside, and an average of 35% was killed outside). In a cage exclusion experiment, T. absoluta showed relatively low larval density in the cages with pre-fruiting release of C. carnea, whereas the larval density was four to six times higher in the “no release” cages. In the “post-fruiting release” cages, the pest population that had already built up during the pre-fruiting stage eventually crashed. In an open-field experiment, the tomato crops in control plots were fully destroyed, whereas low levels of larvae density and damage were observed in the biocontrol plots. Moreover, the field release of C. carnea resulted in significantly higher tomato yield than those without release, despite no differences between the “pre-fruiting release” and “post-fruiting release” treatments. We conclude that the local commercial biocontrol agent C. carnea could be promising for the management of T. absoluta in Tajikistan. It is also one of the first reports showing the management of T. absoluta using a lacewing species. The effectiveness should be validated by further field trials in larger area of commercial crops and various locations.

The untreated control recorded maximum larval population. Among the biopesticides LAMIT 0.6% and eucalyptus oil 0.2%, recorded maximum population. These were followed by karanj oil 0.5%, biomix 0.3%, beauveria bassiana 0.4% neem oil 0.2%, NSKE 5%, verticilium lecanii 0.4%, metarhizium+ beauveria bassiana 0.4% and dashparni ark 0.6%. The most toxic insecticides were emamectin benzoate 5% SG and Thiamethoxam 25% WG.

The Green lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi silleni (Esben-Peterson), also known as “aphidlion” is a beneficial insect predator of various insect pests. The laboratory experiment was conducted during 2018-19 to evaluate the substrate colour preference for egg laying by C. zastrowi sillemi. Egg receiving sheets were pasted with white, black, green, indigo blue, yellow, brown, violet, sky blue, pink, red and orange colour papers. Among all colours C. z. sillemi females preferred orange colour as a substrate for egg laying with maximum number of eggs (43.13/female/day) followed by red colour substrate (25.50 eggs/female/day). White and black were least preferred.

Wings of insects exhibit many functions apart from flying. In particular, their antireflection function is important for insects to avoid detection by their enemies. This function can be applied to antireflection biomimetic films in engineering fields. For such applications, confirming the antireflection mechanisms of insect wings is important. Herein, we used electron microscopy to compare the surfaces of green lacewing wings with and without a surface wax structure and recorded the transmittance spectra to clarify the surface structural and optical properties of insect wings. The spectral transmittance was higher for wings with a surface wax structure than for wings without a wax layer in the light wavelength regime from 500 to 750 nm. We constructed a concise model of the green lacewing wing with flake-like surface structure with a graded effective refractive index corresponding to the wing samples with a surface wax layer; we also constructed a simple thin-film model corresponding to the wing samples without a wax layer. The graded refractive indices were calculated using the effective medium theory, and the transmittance spectra of such models were then calculated using the transfer-matrix method. It was observed that the calculated spectra are in good agreement with the experimental results. In addition, wing samples without a surface structure induce thin-film interference. These results suggest that a wax structure can reduce the reflectance and increase the transmittance enabling the green lacewings to avoid detection by their enemies. These findings may lead to further advances in both the biomimetic field and fundamental research fields.

Since their commercial introduction in 1996 in the USA, the insect resistant transgenic Bt crops, notably Bt -cotton and Bt -corn, have given effective control of target pests and found overwhelming adoption in several countries. As of 2017, these Bt crops were cultivated in 14 countries on 100 m ha, including 11.4 m ha of Bt -cotton in India, which comprised 53% of 189.8 m ha of all GM crops grown in 24 countries. Such extensive cultivation of Bt crops, incorporated with genes derived from the soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt ), modified to express host-specific insecticidal crystalline (Cry) proteins, has resulted in higher crop yields by 22%, increased farmers’ profit by 68% and reduced chemical insecticide applications by 37%, thereby providing social, economic, health and environmental benefits. The reduced chemical sprays have contributed to conservation of parasitoids and predators leading to enhanced biological control in crop systems. Feeding tests carried out with predators like ladybird beetles and green lacewing and also with hymenopteran parasitoids have demonstrated Bt proteins to be safe to these natural enemies. The value of Bt crops in promoting biological control and integrated pest management is discussed.

Laboratory experiments were conducted at Department of Entomology, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India during 2019-20 to study the biology of green lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Petersen) on cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. The aphid culture was maintained on cabbage seedlings and the predator, C. zastrowi sillemi was reared on aphids. Duration of different developmental stages of the predator as well as adult longevity and sex ratio were recorded. The mean egg, larval and pupal periods were 4.82 ± 0.24, 11.2 ± 0.60 and 7.03± 0.29 days, respectively. The total developmental period was 21.4 ± 0.51 days. Larva of C. zastrowi sillemi had undergone three instars before pupation. The first instar had the shortest duration (3.80 ± 0.20 days) while the third instar lasted for longest period (4.25 ± 0.15 days). The pre oviposition, oviposition and total longevity of female adult were 6.60 ± 0.40, 25.40 ± 0.51 and 40.8 ± 1.28 days, respectively while longevity of male adult of C. zastrowi sillemi was 29.40 ± 1.86 days. The studies proved that predator, C. zastrowi sillemi could complete the life cycle on the cabbage aphid in about 20-23 days and can serve as a potential biocontrol agent to manage this pest.

The species of the genus Ceraeochrysa, known as green lacewings or trash-carriers, are widely distributed along the Americas and its islands. In Brazil, 28 species are found, including Ceraeochrysa cincta (Schneider), Ceraeochrysa claveri (Navás), and Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen). These species are recorded on many crops, where they are often used for biological control. For this use, knowledge of the genetic features of the species is extremely important because they are associated to the species' ability to withstand different conditions in new environments, such as variations of temperature and presence of pathogens. However, little is known about the genetic features of Ceraeochrysa species. Here, we analyze and compare the distribution of the genetic variability of C. cincta, C. claveri, and C. cubana in agroecosystem populations of southeast Brazil. We found a high genetic diversity in each of the three species, and no strong genetic structure was detected, such that genetic diversity is broadly shared among the crops and localities analyzed. We can conclude that there was a high gene flow among the sampled Ceraeochrysa populations (natural or driven by anthropic action) since the exchange of seedlings among crops can lead to the distribution of the specimens.

Two insulin receptors coordinate oogenesis and oviposition via two pathways in the green lacewing, Chrysopa pallens

Abstract Structural proteins are in the spotlight of research and industry due to their versatile properties and the respective potential applications. Besides in‐depth studied structural proteins such as spider silk proteins, the proteins within the egg stalk of green lacewings represent another interesting approach for material development. In order to convert such materials into products, biotechnological processes are required to generate a sufficient supply of raw materials. This work describes an innovative and efficient way to recombinantly produce and purify the genetically modified lacewing silk protein N[AS]8C (53 kDa) as well its exemplary conversion into silk films. By means of high cell density fermentations applying Escherichia coli (E coli) BL21(DE3) or E coli HMS174(DE3), the successful biosynthesis of the recombinant lacewing silk protein N[AS]8C was demonstrated. Interestingly, the formation of an intracellular, highly insoluble silk protein fraction was observed. A tailored purification strategy was developed, allowing the isolation and purification of the insoluble intracellular silk aggregates. Furthermore, the processing of the purified lacewing silk proteins into transparent films was also documented. Based on structural studies (ATR‐FTIR), a dominant antiparallel β‐sheet‐orientation was observed in purified silk protein powder as well as in the processed silk materials, which can be attributed to the cross‐β‐structure characteristic to lacewing egg stalk silk proteins.

The common green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) has a remarkable role in biological control programs being used to control insect pests of economic significance. This study aimed to investigate the potential of C. carnea against commonly used insecticides, especially acetamiprid. Selection with acetamiprid resulted in 31,070.69- and 13.34-fold resistance when compared with Lab-PK and Field strains, respectively. Selection also induced a very low cross-resistance to buprofezin, pyriproxyfen, and spinosad in Aceta-SEL strain. Realized heritability (h2) was 0.24 showed a remarkable genetic variant for resistance. Resistance to acetamiprid in C. carnea was incompletely dominant, autosomal, and polygenic. These outcomes are helpful to employ the acetamiprid-resistant C. carnea in fields.

A predator gut analysis technique is described that can simultaneously pinpoint predation events which are life stage-specific, intraspecies-specific (cannibalism) and interspecies-specific (intraguild). The third and fifth larval life stages of green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea Stephens s.l. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), were marked with rabbit IgG and chicken IgY, respectively. The uniquely marked lacewing life stages were then introduced into caged arenas (n = 59 caged experimental units) containing a cotton plant and an assemblage of generalist predators. The predators released into each arena were recaptured after 6 h and their gut contents were examined for the presence of rabbit IgG- and chicken IgY-marked lacewing remnants by an anti-rabbit and anti-chicken enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The predator gut ELISAs detected one cannibalism event and 14 and 8 intraguild predation (IGP) events on third and fifth instar lacewings, respectively. This proof-of-concept study shows that this universal prey immunomarking technique (UFIT), when combined with field cage methods, can be useful for pinpointing cannibalism and life stage-specific predation events.