Effects of different diet levels of Ephestia kuehniella eggs on life history parameters of Chrysoperla rufilabris (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) under laboratory conditions

Larvae of the common green lacewings, Chrysoperla rufilabris, were fed different diet levels (2, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80) of eggs of the moth Ephestia kuehniella in all three larval instar every day. Demographic parameters, including developmental times, survival rates, adult weights, fecundity, and adult longevity of both males and females were studied. Larvae that were provided highest number (80 eggs) of eggs of E. kuehniella every day had a significantly shorter developmental times (larval period, pupal period, and preovipositional period), gained significantly high weight, and maximum fecundity. All the larvae under the low-levels of eggs (2, 5, and 10) treatments died and failed to pupate. These results might be beneficial for mass-rearing of C. rufilabris and for understanding its population dynamics in the field under different levels of prey populations.