Comparative life histories of the predators Ceraeochrysa cincta, C. cubana, and C. smithi (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Abstract

The subtropical green lacewings Ceraeochrysa cincta (Schneider), C.cubana (Hagen), and C. smithi (Navas) share many aspects of their life histories; however, they differ in a suite of developmental and reproductive traits that appear very important ecologically and that have significant implications for biological control. All 3 species have trash-carrying larvae, and they complete preimaginal development (from egg to adult emergence) in ~4 wk at 24°C. The intrinsic rates of natural increase of the 3 species overlap considerably. Rates of development are related linearly to temperature, and there are no developmental delays that indicate preimaginal or reproductive diapause, even under short days (10:14 [L:D] h). Of the 3 species, C. cubana has the highest thermal thresholds for development, whereas those of C. smithi are the lowest. C. smithi lays its eggs in spiral clutches (~13 eggs per clutch) and its oviposition persists for a moderately long period (~26 d). Neither C. cincta nor C. cubana lays eggs in clutches. C. cincta has a high rate of oviposition (~17 eggs per day) and a relatively short oviposition period (~21 d). C. cubana has a lower rate of oviposition (~6 eggs per day), but a much longer oviposition period (~52 d) than the other species. Progress in the systematics and comparative biology of these and other Ceraeochrysa species will help implement the efficient mass-production, marketing, and use of this large and diverse group of predators in biological control. In turn, the low-cost availability of these species will diversify the arsenal of natural enemies and thus help expand the commercialization of biological control.