The effect of four different foods on some biological parameters of Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.)(Neur.: Chrysopidae) larvae and pupae in laboratory conditions

The effect of egg of Sitotroga cerealella, dead body of adult S. cerealella, green aphid of cotton and Planococcus citri on some biological parameters of Chrysoperla carnea in a CRD with 50 replicates was studied in laboratory conditions. The collected eggs of C. carnea from tomato and cucurbite fields after hatching were reared on eggs of Anagasta kuehniella for 5 succesive generation to provide pure generation .The larvae were fed individually on above mentioned foods under 27±1oC, 60±5% RH and at 16:8 hours (L:D) conditions. The results indicated that the larvae fed on eggs of S. cerealella and green aphids of cotton had shorter larval and pupal period, increase in weight of larvae and pupae and decrease in larval mortality as compared with larvae fed on dead bodies of adult S. cerealella and Planococcus citri. Therefore these foods were suitable for mass rearing of C. carnea. The morphological unsuitability of dead bodies of adult S. cerealella and adhesive body of Planococcus citri had adverse effect on larvae of C. carnea to feed on them and these conditions resulted longer larval period and increase in rate of mortality. Hence, These were found to be unsuitable as food for mass rearing of the predator.