Feeding potential of Chrysoperla zastrowi arabica (Henry et al.) on different prey hosts
Pooja Naruka, Anil Meena and Braj Mohan Meena
The investigation on the Feeding potential of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi arabica (Henry et al.) was conducted to find predatory efficiency of the eggs and neonate larvae of Corcyra cephalonica (Staint.) and nymphs of five species of aphids viz. Aak aphid, Nyzus nerii (Boyr.), Mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.), Cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Glov.), Bean aphid Aphis craccivora (Koch.), Barley aphid Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch.) during October 2014 to March 2015. Larval stage of C. zastrowi arabica preferred the eggs of C.cephalonica with the highest consumption of 298.24 eggs followed by the neonate larvae of C.cephalonica with the consumption of 250.59 and A. gossypii with the consumption of 229.93 nymphs. Whereas, N. nerii was the least preferred host with the consumption of 154.58 nymphs. There was a significant difference between instar’s efficiency when offered different hosts. Considering the consumption of C. zastrowi arabica adults, the females consumed more prey than males and the highest consumption was obtained when reared on the eggs of C.cephalonica with the highest pupal weight of 10.39 and 10.73 mg, maximum growth rate index of 113.18 and 99.72 and maximum adult emergence of 92.05 and 95.84 percent in male and female, respectively. The larval development period of C. zastrowi arabica was shorter on eggs and neonate larvae of C.cephalonica i.e. 9.18, 10.76 days; 9.36, 10.24 days and A. gossypii i.e.9.64, 11.38 days in male and female, respectively. C. zastrowi arabica adult longevity was greater on eggs, neonate larvae of C. cephalonica i.e. 26.99, 34.78; 23.45, 32.29 days and on A. gossypii i.e.28.99, 38.93 days in male and female, respectively.