Food consumption by Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) and Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) of natural and substitute prey: Determination of feeding efficiency (Insecta: Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

The predation efficiency of two green lacewing species, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) sensu late and Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder), on the peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and on eggs of the pyralid moth, Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), was determined by their food consumption measured in amount (mg) of prey ingested. This study showed that Ch. carnea used food more efficiently when fed on A. kuehniella, whereas Ch. sinica performed better on M. persicae. Chrysoperla carnea, however, had a higher mortality rate than Ch. sinica whatever prey was offered. Finally, the predictive nature of the regression curve of weight against cumulative food consumption, calculated for each instar and each species, is valuable in developing control strategies as it provides an indication of the numbers of larvae that should be released relative to the pest population growth.