Predation activity of Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) upon Aphis fabae (Hemiptera: Aphididae): Effect of different hunger levels

•We investigated the effect of different hunger levels of three larval instars of C. carnea to A. fabae nymphs.•Different larval instars of C. carnea in response to their hunger levels showed both types II and III functional responses.•The degree of starvation of C. carnea larvae changed their consumption rate on A. fabae nymphs.

This research investigated the effect of different hunger levels on the functional response of three larval instars of Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) to a mixture of third and fourth nymphal instars of Aphis fabae Scopoli (Homoptera: Aphididae). Hunger levels for the first and second larval instars of the predator were 4, 12 and 24 h. For the third instar, the hunger levels were 2, 4 and 8 h. At 4, 12 and 24 h, the functional responses for the first instar larvae of the predator were from types II, II and III, whereas those for second instar were from types III, III and II, respectively. The last instar of the predator showed the functional response types II, II and III at 2, 4 and 8 h hunger levels, respectively. The handling times estimated for the first instar larvae of the predator were not significantly different between hunger levels. However, there was a significant difference between the handling times estimated for the second and third larval instar of the predator at different hunger levels.

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