Life table of Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) reared on Melanaphis sacchari (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

Chrysoperla externa is a widely distributed and highly adaptable predatory insect. In order to evaluate its capacity as a natural enemy of the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, its life table when reared on M. sacchari was inferred. The biological cycle lasted an average of 29.5 ± 6.2 d from egg to adult. The embryonic and larval period duration was 5.1 ± 0.3 and 13.8 ± 4.5 d, respectively. The pupa stage was completed in 10.6 ± 1.4 d, whereas adults lived 63.5 ± 26.7 d after eclosion. The mortality rate showed the highest values in the egg stage (qx = 0.17). The greatest survival rate appeared in the third instar (93.7 %). The period prior to reproduction was 6.5 ± 3.1 d. The average fecundity was 228.3 ± 139.1 eggs. The life table parameters were Ro = 113.2, T = 28.9, rm = 0.163 and λ = 1.17. According to the results, it is possible to infer that C. externa is capable of accomplishing its life cycle feeding only on M. sacchari.

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

“…The mixed diet tested in our study yielded C. externa population parameters, with R 0 and T values higher than those obtained by Palomares-Pérez et al (2020), although λ and r m were lower. These differences may be related to the prey itself, the experimental methodology adopted in each of the studies, as well as the different host plants of the prey, which can influence predator performance (Price et al, 1980;Sujii et al, 2020).…”