Is a diet of Planococcus citri nymphs and adults suitable for Chrysoperla externa for use in biological control?

Effect of Single- And Mixed-Resource Diets of Mealybug Stages on Developmental and Reproductive Performances of the Green Lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea

“…Research on biology of natural enemies is a fundamental request for the success of an augmentative biocontrol program (Parra et al, 2015). There is a report on the use of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) for controlling P. citri on roses (see Carvalho et al, 2023), which shows that both prey types may influence growth and reproduction of predators (Principi and Canard, 1984;Dhandapani et al, 2016) and/or that the host plant can play a significant role in this tritrophic interaction (Price et al, 1980;Adriano et al, 2010). Indeed, several studies have demonstrated that in the availability of alternative food, a decline in rates of predation on the target pest has reported (Eubanks and Denno, 2000;Koss and Snyder, 2005;Symondson et al, 2006).…”

“…Thus, for the sustainable development of biocontrol programs that use C. carnea, it is necessary to recognize the high quality food/prey. The first report shows the influence of eggs of the natural (P. citri) and alternative (Ephestia kuehniella) prey on different larval instars of C. externa has been announced by Carvalho et al (2023), however few studies have been examined the effect of various prey species on growth, reproduction, and longevity of C. carnea, despite its importance as an efficient biocontrol agent. In addition, the nutritional value of prey for this predator is also not covered enough.…”