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Predation capacity and prey preference of Chrysoperla carnea on Pieris brassicae

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Abstract

The predation capacity and prey preference of larvae of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on eggs or larvae of Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in the absence and presence of cabbage aphids as an alternative prey were evaluated in laboratory experiments at 25°C. Both instars preyed upon butterfly eggs and larvae as well as on cabbage aphids with the third instar being the most voracious. The lacewings had a strong preference for caterpillars to butterfly eggs. In the presence of the aphids the predation on P. brassicae eggs or larvae was either completely abandoned or reduced by about 70%, respectively, by second instar lacewings and either reduced by about 80% or maintained, respectively, by third instar lacewings. Both instars thus had a clear preference for aphids compared to eggs of P. brassicae. However, second instar lacewings preferred aphids to caterpillars whereas the opposite was the case for third instar lacewings. The results indicate that 3rd instar C. carnea has a potential as biocontrol agent against P. brassicae.

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Acknowledgments

This work was a part of a Sino-Danish Science-Technology Cooperation Project supported in part by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), and in part by the National Basic Research Program of China (2006CB102005) and Beijing Nova Program (2003B24). We thank Gitte Christiansen and Steen Meyer for their help in connection with the experiments. In addition we thank Kirsten Jensen for her assistance with language corrections and two anonymous referees, as well as the editors of BioControl for their constructive comments which helped us improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant & Environmental Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture & Forestry Science, 100097, Beijing, China

    Ningxing Huang

  2. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Integrated Pest Management, Research Centre Flakkebjerg, Aarhus University, 4200, Slagelse, Denmark

    Ningxing Huang & Annie Enkegaard

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  1. Ningxing Huang
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  2. Annie Enkegaard
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Correspondence to Annie Enkegaard.

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Handling Editor: Patrick De Clercq.

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Huang, N., Enkegaard, A. Predation capacity and prey preference of Chrysoperla carnea on Pieris brassicae . BioControl 55, 379–385 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-009-9254-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-009-9254-5

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