title: The green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea: preference between lettuce aphids, Nasonovia ribisnigri, and Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis.
abstract: This study investigated the prey preference of 3(rd) instar green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), between western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and lettuce aphids, Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosley) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in laboratory experiments at 25 ± 1° C and 70 ± 5% RH with five prey ratios (10 aphids:80 thrips, 25 aphids:65 thrips, 45 aphids:45 thrips, 65 aphids:25 thrips, and 80 aphids:10 thrips). Third instar C. carnea larvae readily preyed upon both thrips and aphids, with thrips mortality varying between 40 and 90%, and aphid mortality between 52 and 98%. Chrysoperla carnea had a significant preference for N. ribisnigri at two ratios (10 aphids:80 thrips, 65 aphids:25 thrips), but no preference for either prey at the other ratios. There was no significant linear relationship between preference index and prey ratio, but a significant intercept of the linear regression indicated an overall preference of C. carnea for aphids with a value of 0.651 ± 0.054. The possible implications of these findings for control of N. ribisnigri and F. occidentalis by C. carnea are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agroecology, Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Research Centre Flakkebjerg, Forsøgsvej 1, DK-4200 Slagelse, Denmark.
authors.forename: Govinda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Enkegaard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000254:growth & development; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D020387:Food Chain; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D009758:Nymph / Q000254:growth & development; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D061149:Thysanoptera / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D061046:Biological Control Agents