MASS REARING, STORAGE TECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL EFFICIENCY OF GREEN LACEWING (CHRYSOPERLA CARNEA) IN AGROBIOCENOSES

Abstract

The present study investigated the mass rearing, storage technology, and biological efficiency of the entomophagous insects Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) and Chrysopa septempunctata (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) under laboratory and agrobiocenosis conditions. During the research, the rearing technology based on Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) was optimized, and the optimal storage parameters for different developmental stages were evaluated. Under laboratory conditions, 0.5 g of Sitotroga cerealella eggs were placed into 3-liter glass containers and maintained at 25-27°C temperature and 60-70% relative humidity. Subsequently, 400-500 eggs of Chrysoperla carnea were introduced into each container, and larval development as well as adult emergence were monitored.

The results demonstrated that Chrysoperla carnea eggs could be successfully stored for 30-35 days at 5-8°C and 60-85% relative humidity. Under these conditions, 70-80% viable larvae successfully emerged from the stored eggs. In addition, adult insects maintained at 8°C and 85-90% relative humidity remained viable for up to 6 months. Photoperiod reduction to 10 hours induced diapause, resulting in decreased physiological activity of adults.

Laboratory observations revealed a high predatory capacity of Chrysoperla carnea larvae. Third instar larvae consumed an average of 40-80 aphids (Aphididae) per day. Furthermore, Chrysopa septempunctata larvae exhibited high biological efficiency in vegetable and melon agrobiocenoses, significantly reducing pest populations when released at a ratio of 1:50.

The obtained results indicate that Chrysoperla carnea and Chrysopa septempunctata can serve as effective biological control agents and provide an important scientific basis for their mass production, long-term storage, and application in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems.