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MASS REARING OF CHRYSOPERLA CARNEA
Pakistan J. Zool., vol. 43(3), pp. 483-487, 2011.
Mass Rearing of Chrysoperla carnea(Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)Adults for Integrated Pest Management Programmes
Muzammil Sattar1* and Ghulam Hussain Abro2
1Plant Protection Division, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, P.O. Box 128, Jhang Road, Faisalabad
2Sindh AgricultureUniversity, Tando Jam
Abstract.- Experiment was conducted during 2009, in laboratory to evaluate substrate colour preference for egg laying of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens). C. carnea male and female were paired and confined in glass chimneys as cages covered with different coloured cloth pieces such as white, green, black, brown, yellow and pink. Among all colours tested, females preferred black colour as a substrate for egg-laying and laid the highest (91.00%) eggs followed by green colour and lowest on brown colour. In another experiment the adults of C. carnea were reared in three types of cages, transparent Perspex cage, transparent glass cage and wooden cage in the laboratory conditions, to test the suitability of different cage types for better egg production and C. carnea culture management for mass production unit. The highest number of eggs (18.46%) drifted in wooden cage, whereas, lowest percentage of drifted eggs (3.71%) was observed in glass cage. Glass cages proved better than other types of cages, requiring minimum time from the point of sanitation. For adult rearing minimum time required for food provision was 2.40 min in glass cage followed by 3.00 min in Perspex cage. Much shorter (3.70 min) time was required for cleaning of glass cage than Perspex cage (4.60 min). Significantly less time (3.80 min) was required for egg harvesting from glass cage, than from other types of cages.
Key words: Chrysoperla carnea, adults, rearing cages, substrate colour preference.
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MASS REARING OF CHRYSOPERLA CARNEA
INTRODUCTION
The green lacewings,Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a cosmopolitan predator found in a wide range of agricultural habitats. Earlier, many authors such as DeBach and Hagen (1964), Henry (1979, 1985, 1993), Bram and Bickely (1963) and Brooks et al. (1994) have discussed the role of predators in controlling agricultural insect pests. It is estimated that possibly up to one third of the successful biological insect pest control programmes are attributable to the introduction of C. carnea and release of insect predators (Williamson and Smith, 1994). Larvae of C. carnea are voracious and efficient biological control agents for various phytophagous arthropods (McEwen et al., 2001). One larva may devour as many as five hundred aphids in its life and there is no doubt that they play an important part in the natural control of many small homopterous pests (Michaud, 2001). There
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*Corresponding author:
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Copyright 2011 Zoological Society of Pakistan.
is a huge amount of literature available for mass rearing of C. carnea from early 60s in simplified units, cylindrical plastic cages and other techniques of shifting of adults for diet and cleaning of rearing units (Tulisalo and Korpela, 1973; Hassan, 1975; Morrison, 1977; Tulisalo, 1978; Karelin et al., 1989; Pal-Singh and Varma, 1989).
For suppressing sucking pests, egg cards of green lacewings were used in cotton, vegetables and various field and horticultural crops (Fondren et al., 2004; Ballal and Singh, 1999; Daane et al., 1996; Hoddle and Robinson, 2004; Hanumantharaya et al., 2008). Therefore, for release purpose it is necessary to mass rear this beneficial insect with new technologies. In this study to economise the mass production, different types of cages were used for mass culturing of C. carnea adults to test the better egg production, time required for egg harvesting, food provision and the time spent on sanitation of cages for maintaining the healthy culture. Shifting of adults from one cage to another and particularly egg harvesting and cleaning was difficult to perform. In view of above difficulties, adult cages were designed with the objectives to avoid the use of anaesthesia or vacuum suckers to reduce labour involved in sanitation, feeding and harvesting of eggs and to ensure proper light and ventilation inside the cage. The results of this study will provide information to progressive farmers and commercial insectaries for improved mass production technology of C. carnea under socio-economic conditions of Pakistan.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Substrate colour preference for egg laying
An experiment was conducted in laboratory during 2009, to evaluate substrate colour preference for egg laying of Chrysoperla carnea. C. carnea male and female were paired and confined in glass chimneys (4 x 7 cm) as cages, covered with different coloured cloth pieces such as white, green, black, brown, yellow and pink colours. Females were allowed to mate and lay eggs for 20 days. Wet cotton was used for water in glass vials inside the chimneys, while paper cards (2 x 3 cm) were used for diet droplets. Eggs laid on the cloth piece and inner side of rearing chimney were collected and counted carefully. This experiment was replicated eight times.
Mass rearing of adults
For rearing adults of C. carnea, three types of cages were used, to test the better egg production; minimum time required for egg harvesting, food provision, and time spent on the sanitation of cages for maintaining the healthy culture. Following designs were tested:
Transparent perspex cages
Adults of C. carnea were reared in these cages for testing the eggs laid on substrate and drifted and laid on other structures. The cage was made of only three (5 mm width) sheets (40 x 40 cm); one in lower surface and two for side walls, the front side was made of plastic net with replaceable top lid of wooden piece covered with black muslin cloth. Only one rounded hole of 7.5 cm in diameter was made in front side for food provision and cleaning of cage, an iron rod was patched with glue (Smad bond®), which was covered and stitched with white muslin cloth sleeve; both the ends of sleeve were open for sanitation, provision of food and water and release of newly emerged insects.
Transparent glass cages
Shape of the cage resembled that of Perspex cage, except that the cage was transparent, made of glass (40 x 40 cm), covered with black muslin cloth directly as egg laying substrate at the ceiling of the cage without any use of wooden sheet, pinned tightly with common paper pins from four ends which was easy to change the cover, without any escape of adults. The front side had a hole of 7.5 cm in diameter for handling of insects, which was covered by white muslin cloth sleeve. Moisture was maintained by placing wet cotton wig in glass vials. There was no need to shift the adults during food and water provision and for sanitation.
Wooden cages
These cages were made of wood (40 x 40 cm), with net on four sides; base was wooden sheet, while lid was replaceable wooden sheet, covered with black muslin cloth. A hole of 7.5 cm in diameter was made for sanitation, provision of food and water and release of newly emerged insects. Water soaked cotton for maintaining moisture inside the cage in glass vials was provided.
Maintenance of culture
Food provision
Standard adults diet (Honey 1g, sucrose 5mg, protein 5g, yeast 1g and distilled water 40 ml) was provided twice daily in droplets on Perspex sheet strips with the help of fine camel hair brush.
Egg harvesting
Eggs were harvested from replaceable black muslin cloth cover with the help of sharp razor blade. Some eggs were laid on other structures within cage such as cage walls, water containing vials etc., were also harvested with razor.
Cleaning of cages
All the cages were cleaned with wet cotton wig after that dried gently with the help of tissue paper. Time of egg harvesting, food provision and cleaning of cages was noted.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Substrate colour preference for egg laying
Chrysoperla carnea females visually distinguished different colours and preferred certain colours as a substrate for egg laying. C. carnea oviposition preference for different coloured substrates was significant (F= 187.28; DF= 5, 42; P <0.001). Among all colours, C. carnea females preferred black colour as a substrate for egg laying and laid the highest (91.00%) eggs followed by green colour and lowest were recorded in brown colour (Fig .1).
Fig.1. Egg-laying performance of C. carnea on different substrate colours under laboratory conditions.
Mass Rearing of adults
In present study, the time required for food provision was 2.40 min in glass cage followed by 3.00 minutes in Perspex cage. Significantly (F= 13.62; DF= 2, 27; P <0.001) more time (3.9 min) was required for provision of food in wooden cages. Significantly (F= 858.95; DF= 2, 27; P <0.001) more time (16.60 min) was required for egg harvesting from wooden cage, whereas, minimum time of 3.80 min was required for glass cage for the same operation. While significantly (F= 119.3; DF= 2, 27; P= <0.001) much shorter (3.70 min) time was required for cleaning of glass cage followed by 4.60 min for perspex cage and 9.9 min for wooden cage (Table I).
The result of eggs laid on substrate and drifted and laid on other structures is shown in Table II. Significantly (F= 10.16; DF= 2, 27; P= <0.001) higher number of eggs (273.42±14.46) were laid on glass cage compared with other two types of cages. Whereas, the highest percentage (18.46%) of eggs drifted when wooden cage was used for mass rearing and egg production of C. carnea adults compared with other types. The difference between different cage types was significant (F= 2.57; DF= 2, 27; P <0.001).
Table I.- Handling time required for mass-rearing of C. carnea adults in different types of cages under laboratory conditions (Mean ±S.E).
Cages / Operation time (minutes)Food provision / Egg harvesting / Cleaning
Perspex / 3.00 b / 4.40 b / 4.60 b
Glass / 2.40 b / 3.80 b / 3.70 b
Wooden / 3.90 a / 16.60 a / 9.90a
Figures followed by same letter in a column are not significantly different from each other at 5% DMRT.
Table II.-Egg-laying distribution of C. carnea in different types of cages under laboratory conditions.
Cages / Mean±S.E. / Drifted eggs (%)On substrate / Drifted
Perspex cage / 192.8±5.23 b / 17.97±2.47 b / 9.32
Glass cage / 273.42±14.46 a / 13.45±1.39 c / 3.71
Wooden cage / 167.55±14.49 c / 38.27±5.71 a / 18.46
Figures followed by same letter in a column are not significantly different from each other at 5% DMRT.
Mass rearing of C. carnea adults for commercial purpose, to obtain eggs or larvae for augmentive release under field conditions for integrated pest management purpose required certain operations to be carried out such as provision of food, harvesting of eggs and cleaning of cages containing C. carnea adults in an insectary.
Tulisalo and Korpela (1973) reared C. carnea adults in cylindrical plastic cages; Females laid an average of 700 eggs each; 80-83% of the eggs hatched. McEwen et al. (1999) have outlined production system of C. carnea and have worked out economics of production. Carvalho et al. (2002) have determined the influence of density of green lacewing, C. mediterranea adults on their production potential.
Karelin et al. (1989) developed techniques for commercial mass-rearing of the predator Chrysopa carnea [Chrysoperla carnea] as a biological control agent. Changing the cage shape from cylindrical to rectangular increased production efficiency by 27-30%. Pal-Singh and Varma (1989) evaluated the suitability of dead adults of C. cephalonica for mass rearing of C. carnea. Substitution of C. cephalonica eggs with dead adults resulted in substantial increases in larval and pupal durations of the predator and reductions in survival rate. It was concluded that dead adults of C. cephalonica provided inadequate nourishment for larvae of C. carnea.
Rearing of C. carnea in the glass cages proved better than other types of cages, requiring minimum time from the point of sanitation, food provision, egg harvesting and handling of adults. This will save labour costs and will be more economical than other types of cages for mass production unit in an insectary.
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(Received 8 April 2010, revised 28 October 2010)