Predation Capacity and Some Biological Parameters of Chrysoperla Carnea (Stephens) On Aphis Craccivora Koch under Laboratory Conditions

Laboratory experiments were conducted to study some biological aspects and feeding capacity of aphid lion, Chrysoperla carnea under laboratory conditions. At 25±2 °C and 65±5%R.H., the results indicated that the eggs incubation period of Ch. carnea was 4.00 days (eggs resulted from females reared in larval stage on A. craccivora and in adult's on artificial diet). The hatchability percentage of the deposited eggs reached 86.00%, indicating 14.00% mortality percentage. Also, durations of the three larval instars, and pupae were 2.04, 2.36, 4.88 and 8.24 days respectively. The sex ratio was (56.00% female: 44.00% male). The pre-oviposition period of the females lasted 3.80 days, while the oviposition and the post-oviposition lasted 13.93 and 3.60 days, respectively. Larva of the 3^rd instar fed on 395.64 aphids of 4^th instar nymphs of A. craccivora, being the highest voracious feeder as compared to the first two larval instars which consumed the means of 40.04 and 83.28 individuals, respectively. When fed on A. craccivora nymphs, female lived longer (21.40 days) than male (17.73 days). Also, by feeding on A. craccivora nymphs throughout the larval stage and on semi-artificial diet during the adult stage, a single Ch. carnea female deposited a total of 268.8 eggs.