Effects of various prey species on development, survival and reproduction of the predatory lacewing Dichochrysa prasina (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

The effects of different prey species on preimaginal development and survival, as well as on adult longevity and fecundity of the predatory lacewing Dichochrysa prasina Burmeister were studied under laboratory conditions. The prey species tested were the aphids Aphis fabae Scopoli, Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe, Aphis pomi De Geer, Hyalopterous pruni Geoffroy, Macrosiphum rosae (L.) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer), the “two spotted spider mite” Tetranychus urticae Koch, the “moth” Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) and the “beetles” Tribolium confusum Duval and Tenebrio molitor (L.). Eggs of E. kuehniella and nymphs of M. persicae were the most favorable among the tested prey, resulting in high survival and short developmental time of preimaginal stages as well as in increased adult longevity and fecundity of D. prasina. Larvae of T. molitor were less favorable, resulting in a decrease of adult longevity and fecundity of D. prasina. Among the other prey studied, nymphs of A. fabae, A. pomi, H. pruni and M. rosae, nymphs and adults of T. urticae, and larvae of T. confusum were the least favorable for development, whereas nymphs of A. nerii did not allow the completion of larval development of D. prasina. These results could be useful for mass-rearing of D. prasina and for understanding its population dynamics in the field in relation to the availability of certain prey species.