Life table and predation rate of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) fed on Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy)(Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens), is considered to be a real natural enemy of the mealy plum aphid (MPA), Hyalopterus pruni, an important pest of stone fruit trees in Lake Van Basin, Turkey. In this study, the population growth rate and predation capacity of the green lacewing fed on MPA using the age-stage, two-sex life table are investigated. The life table and consumption rate studies of the green lacewing are conducted under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 1°C, 60 ± 10 % RH, and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L: D) h. The age-stage, two- sex life table are used to analyze the raw data to get an accurate population growth and predation rate in which both the stage differentiation and both sexes were taken into account. The results for the population parameters, i.e the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), mean generation time (T) and net predation rate (C0) of green lacewings fed on MPA were 204.98 offspring, 0.1094 d-1, 1.1157 d-1, 48.62 d and 339.12 prey MPAs, respectively. The finite predation rate (ω) of 18.27 prey/d was calculated by combining the growth rate and predation rate. The findings obtained from the paper can be used to develop an IPM and biological control program for the MPA. Keywords: Chrysoperla carnea, Hyalopterus pruni, Life table, Predation rate.