Effect of different diets on some biological parameters of Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Chrysoperla carnea is a voracious predator. it is currently massreared and released for biological control programs. this study was aimed at finding out the effect of different diets on biological characteristics of adult predator, and to introduce a better and cheaper artificial diet for its massrearing. in order to obtain a pure and physiologically homogenous population, the predator was reared for seven successive generations in laboratory conditions. the effect of six different diets [a mixture of 30% concentrations of glucose, fructose and sucrose (1: 1: 1);, glucose, fructose, sucrose plus extract of sitotroga cerealella eggs (1: 1); glucose, fructose, sucrose plus extract of anagasta kuehniella eggs (1: 1);, a mixture of honey, yeast and distilled water (1: 1: 1);, honey, yeast plus extract of s. cerealella eggs (1: 1: 1) and honey, yeast plus extract of a. kuehniella eggs (1: 1: 1)] was studied on biological parameters (pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition period, longevity of males and females, fecundity, egg hatchability and eggs remained in the ovary of females after death) of the seventh generation. experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions (25 ± 2 ºc, 60 ± 10% rh and 16l: 8dh) with four replications and five observations. results revealed that the mixture of honey, yeast and extract of a. kuehniella eggs (1: 1: 1), influenced the biological traits of the predator more effectively and favorably than all other diets, considering the average longevity, oviposition period and fecundity of female (37.73 ± 0.59, 28.57 ± 1.09 days, 795.0 ± 23.05 eggs, respectively), and egg hatchability (84.98 ± 0.71 %) compared to those of other diet treatments. minimum pre-oviposition period (6.66 ± 0.49 days) was also found in adults fed by this diet.