POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF VARIOUS ANT SPECIES ON GREEN LACEWING, CHRYSOPERLA-CARNEA (STEPHENS) (NEUROPT., CHRYSOPIDAE) EGG NUMBERS

Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) is an important egg predator of the oliv e moth, Prays oleae (Bernard). Its eggs are laid on pedicels, which ar e likely to provide some protection against predators and parasitoids. Ants figure prominently in the insect fauna of olive orchards. Six of the most common species in Granada were tested both in the laboratory and the field to establish their effect on chrysopid egg numbers. Cre matogaster scutellaris Ol. and Tapinoma nigerrimum Nyl. were the most effective predators of chrysopid eggs with probably the latter being t he most damaging due to both its large nest size and its activity. Pla giolepis pygmaea (Latr. Camponotus micans Nyl. and Camponotus foreli E m. proved to be the least efficient predators. Formica subruga Roger w as intermediate in terms of its ability to eat lacewing eggs but a sma ll sample prevents any firm conclusions from being drawn.