Larvae of Chrysoperla cornea sensu lata were fed on eggs or first¬instar larvae of Pectinaphara gossypiella or their mixtures (eggs + larvae) at ratios 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3, under laboratory conditions. The data indicated a strong preference to feed on P. gossypiella eggs rather than on caterpillars. The predatory larvae fed on first-ins tar caterpilIars failed to reach the pupal stage. Throughout the total developmental span, a lacewing larva consumed an average of 932 eggs or 443 caterpillars, or mixtures (eggs + larvae) of [431 + 56], [463 + 128] or [362 + 258] when the prey was offered at the above¬mentioned ratios, respectively. The longest oviposition period lasted 24 days and the highest egg production was 224 eggs per female obtained from the series of larval feeding on only P. gossypiella eggs. On the contrary, the lowest values - 12 days of egg laying and only 32 eggs laid per female __ were recorded in females resulting from larvae fed on the mixture consisting of [I egg + 3 first-instar caterpillars]. |
