THE INFLUENCE OF AN ARTIFICIAL FOOD SUPPLEMENT ON LARVAL AND ADULT PERFORMANCE IN THE GREEN LACEWING CHRYSOPERLA-CARNEA (STEPHENS)

We examined the effects of combinations of: (a) an artificial food sup plement comprising yeast autolysate, sugar and water in the ratio 4:7: 10, and (b) different numbers of live prey (eggs of Anagasta kuehniell a), on larval development and survival, and on adult weight and surviv al, of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea. Given the same number of prey eggs, predator larvae receiving artificial food supplement reach ed the pupal stage more rapidly than those given water. Furthermore, m ore insects in the food supplement treatments eclosed successfully as adults. Only females given good supplement during larval life were abl e to produce eggs in the absence of a proteinaceous adult meal.