Biological and Life Table Parameters of the Green Lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Neu., Chrysopidae) in Feeding on Different Preys in Laboratory Conditions

The green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) is one of the important predators of many pests including Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Tetranychus urticae Koch. In insectaries, the larvae of this predator are mainly reared on Anagasta kuehniella egg. In this research, biological and life table parameters of C. carnea in feeding on A. kuehniella egg as a laboratory prey and two natural preys including H. armigera (stages of egg and neonate larva) and T. urticae were studied. The experiments were carried out at 26±1 °C, 70±5% RH and 16:8 (L:D) h. C. carnea larvae reared on T. urticae did not survive to adulthood. The maximum longevity of adult females (38.3 day), oviposition period (32.33 day) and eggs/female/day (30.52) were obtained in rearing of the larvae on H. armigera egg. Survivorship curve of the predator on all insect preys was from type I. Net reproductive rate (R0) and intrinsic rate of increase (r) of C. carnea on A. kuehniella egg and H. armigera egg and neonate larva were estimated to be 352.68, 579.64 and 385.47 per generation and 0.1816, 0.2152 and 0.2094 d-1, respectively.