Functional Response of Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) Larvae on Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae): Implications for Biological Control

Abstract

Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a voracious predator of soft-bodied insects such as juveniles of scale insects and the black scale Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is an important pest of several crops, such as the olive tree. However, the predatory efficiency of C. carnea on S. oleae has been unstudied yet. The present work aimed to study the functional response of larvae of C. carnea fed on S. oleae nymphs. In a controlled laboratory environment, increasing densities of S. oleae second and third nymph stages were offered to newly emerged specimens of the three larvae instars of C. carnea. After 24 h, the number of killed S. oleae was recorded and the functional response of C. carnea was assessed. The three larval stages of C. carnea displayed a type-II functional response, i.e., killed prey increased with higher S. oleae densities up to a maximum limited by the handling time. The attack rate did not significantly differ among the three instars while the maximum attack rate was significantly higher for the third instar. The handling time of the first larval instar of C. carnea was higher than that of the third instar. Our results demonstrated that S. oleae could act as a food resource for all larval stages of C. carnea. Furthermore, the third larval stage of the predator was the most efficient in reducing S. oleae densities. These results suggest that C. carnea larvae could contribute to S. oleae control in sustainable agriculture.

Predatory Performance of Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on Jacobiasca lybica (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) under Laboratory Conditions

“…Our results indicated that this predator was capable of consuming J. lybica , and the predation rate was significantly higher for the instars (χ 2 = 14.3302, df = 1, P = 0.0001) (Figure 2). We did not detect significant difference between second and first instars, and leafhoppers did not suffer any mortality in the control dishes after 24 h. The predation rate of C. carnea also increased significantly from first to third instars in other laboratory studies (Gautam & Tesfaye 2002, Sattar et al 2007, Mahzoum et al 2020). Mahzoum et al (2020) showed that C. carnea maximum attack rate on Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) was significantly higher for the third instar.…”

“…We did not detect significant difference between second and first instars, and leafhoppers did not suffer any mortality in the control dishes after 24 h. The predation rate of C. carnea also increased significantly from first to third instars in other laboratory studies (Gautam & Tesfaye 2002, Sattar et al 2007, Mahzoum et al 2020). Mahzoum et al (2020) showed that C. carnea maximum attack rate on Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) was significantly higher for the third instar. However, Sarwar (2013) indicated that the releases of first or second instars of C. carnea in fields were more effective in controlling green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on canola ( Brassica napus L .…”

Zelus renardii Roaming in Southern Italy

“…The LAB predation tests here presented did not consider any functional response [31,32]. The tests only supported the data of LAB Nearctic prey during more than a century of studies on various European vicariant prey.…”

Functional Response of Chrysoperla carnea on Two Different Aphid Species (Aphis fabae and Acyrthosiphon pisum)

“…It is thought that this difference arises from the fact that the food age given to predators (N4) is different from the food age given in our study (N2-N3). Mahzoum et al (2019) determined functional response of larvae of C. carnea on Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in their study. The consumed prey amounts were recorded depending on prey densities (3, 5, 10, 15, 25 and 40).…”