Successive Mass Rearing of Chrysopids (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on Eggs of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

A method for successive rearing of chrysopids on eggs of Tribolium castaneum (larval diet) and on a 2 : 3 mixture (by weight) of commercially-available yeast autolysate (AY-65 or Amber BYF Series 100®) and honey (adult diet) was established. Using this rearing method, the survival rate and developmental speed until eclosion, sex ratio and body length of resultant adults, and the adult age-specific survival rate and fecundity were examined under two temperature conditions. Of the five chrysopid species (Chrysoperla cornea, Mallada alcestes, Mallada boninensis, Chrysopa septempunctata, Chrysopa formosa) that could be reared successively, Cp. camea and M. alcestes were found to be suitable for successive mass production. To compare their rm values, Cp. carnea and M. alcestes were reared on eggs of T. castaneum and on a 2 : 3 mixture of Amber BYF Series 100®and honey at 26°±0.5°C under a 16L : 8D photoperiod. The rm values were 0.12 for Cp. camea and 0.09 for M. alcestes, which were not significantly different. The mixture of yeast autolysate and honey was also found to be a suitable adult diet for production of fertile eggs by C. septempunctata over several generations. © 1995, JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY. All rights reserved.