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Development and Reproduction of Mallada basalis (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on Artificial Diets

Abstract The green lacewing, Mallada basalis (Walker) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), has a broad prey range and effective searching abilities. Because rearing procedures based on natural or factitious foods for the larvae of this economically important predator are often time consuming and/or expensive, the main objective of our study was to develop an artificial diet suitable for mass rearing. We analyzed the development, survival, longevity, and reproduction of M. basalis (F1 generation) fed 3 artificial diets. These diets were formulated based on those of Chrysoperla sinica Tjeder and Chrysopa pallens (Rambur) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). All 3 of the diets contained chicken egg, beer yeast powder, sucrose, trehalose, vitamin C, and potassium sorbate. The first artificial diet (AD1) also contained honey and distilled water. AD2 also included pupal hemolymph of the Chinese oak silk moth (Antheraea pernyi Guérin-Méneville; Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), and AD3 also included whole A. pernyi pupae, which had been blended into all of the ingredients. The 2nd instars reared on AD3 required 2.91 d to develop to 3rd instars, which was significantly less time than the 3.69 d required on AD2. However, 3rd instars reared on AD1 required 4.48 d to develop to the pupal stage, which was significantly shorter than 3rd instars on AD2 and AD3 at 6.92 and 5.68 d, respectively. The development time of pupae in the AD3 treatment was 8.18 d, which was significantly shorter than that of pupae in the AD1 and AD2 treatments at 9.05 and 10.00 d, respectively. There were significant differences in adult longevity among the 3 diets, and these longevities in the AD1, AD2, and AD3 treatments were 39.40, 4.75, and 30.11 d, respectively. The oviposition period was significantly longer for females reared on AD1 (22.70 d) than for females reared on AD3 (5.25 d). The oviposition rate and total number of eggs laid from AD1 (16.41 eggs/day and 476.67 eggs, respectively) were significantly greater than those from AD3 (3.11 eggs/day and 19.75 eggs respectively). Females reared on AD2 laid no eggs. There were significant differences in egg hatch and pupation rates among the 3 diets. The egg hatch and pupation rate were largest on AD1, i.e., 100.0% and 63.3%, respectively, whereas they were the least on AD2, i.e., 53.33% and 16.19%, respectively. There were significant differences in hatch rates from newly laid eggs (F2 generation) between AD1 and AD3, i.e., 70.4% and 63.0%, respectively. We found that M. basalis was able to develop and reproduce when fed artificial diets AD1 and AD3. However, AD1 was much better than AD3. The development and reproduction of M. basalis fed AD2 were unacceptable. AD1 contained twice the amount of chicken egg compared with AD2 and AD3, and egg yolk is known to be a high-quality component of diets for entomophagous insects. The diet AD1 was also the only one that contained honey. All the 3 diets contained trehalose, which can be a partial substitute for insect components. Our findings may contribute to the mass production of this economically important predatory green lacewing.