354 P. N. Magar et al.
to an interest toward utilizing them in integrated
pest management (IPM) programs.
Chrysopids also have a great potential to be
used as a bioagent against citrus aphids, white-
flies, citrus psylla, and citrus mealy bugs (Bal-
subramani and Swaminappn 1994 ). For achiev-
ing the effective management of sucking pests
as well as early stages of lepidopteran pests, the
study on biological parameters and predatory po-
tential of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) against
different pests was undertaken.
Materials and Methods
A laboratory experiment was conducted in Bio-
control laboratory at Department of Entomology,
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth,
Akola, during Kharif 2010–2011 with three treat-
ments replicated five times in CRD.
Host Plant
Untreated cotton seeds of cultivar PKV Hy-2
were planted in field as well as in pots in the
laboratory to collect pest population, i.e., aphids,
jassids, and Helicoverpa armigera from fields as
well as pots.
Insect Pest
The pest population, i.e., Aphids, Aphis gos-
sypii, and jassids, Amrasca biguttula biguttula
Ishida on cotton plants were collected from field,
brought to laboratory and were offered to natu-
ral enemy green lacewing, C. carnea. The host
suitability for C. carnea among herbivores, viz.,
aphids, jassids, and Helicoverpa was studied.
Natural Enemy
Chrysoperla carnea, initial culture of C. carnea
was procured from Entomology section, College
of Agriculture, Nagpur, and was reared in labora-
tory on eggs of rice moth, C. cephelonica.
a. Feeding of C. carnea Clean plastic vials
were used for rearing C. carnea on different
preys. A set of three plastic vials was used for
experiment as per treatment replicated five
times. In each glass vial, a single egg of C.
carnea with known age was transferred. After
hatching, individual larva was provided with
known number of fresh prey daily. The preys
were provided twice, once during morning at
9 h and thereafter in the evening at 17.00 h.
The number of preys consumed were recorded
daily. Adults of C. carnea were fed with
honey, Protinex, and yeast mixture diet with
the help of sponge. The sponge was replaced
daily.
b. Observations A set of three larvae for each
treatment was subjected for recording obser-
vations. Observations on biological param-
eters were recorded daily. Larval period was
recorded daily instar wise. The larval instar
was confirmed by the presence of exuviae.
The instar wise larval period and consump-
tion of prey food (instar wise) was noted. The
total larval period was counted from hatching
of eggs till pupation on each prey. A known
quantity of individual prey was provided to
Chrysoperla larva. The number of preys uti-
lized as food by each larva was recorded by
counting utilized and unutilized number of
preys and thus, the feeding potential during
larval period was noted. Larvae were allowed
to pupate inside the same plastic vials. The pe-
riod taken from initiation of pupation till the
emergence of adults was noted and computed
to determine the pupal duration.
Adult longevity for both male and female was
noted. The period from the emergence of adult
from pupae up to the death of adult was consid-
ered as adult longevity. The total number of eggs
laid by female during the entire oviposition pe-
riod was considered as the fecundity of female.
The fecundity was determined by working out
the average number of eggs laid by a female. The
eggs of same age were transferred singly in sepa-
rate plastic vials. The period taken till the hatch-
ing of egg was considered as the incubation pe-
riod. The data on all relevant observations, thus