Farrokhi et al. (2017a) studied the effects of different artificial diets on some
biological parameters of C. carnea adults under laboratory conditions. Their results
showed that a mixture of 1:1:1:1 egg yolk, soluble vitamins, yeast, and honey
positively affected the biological traits of the predator. In this research, mean male
and female longevities, oviposition period, post oviposition period, and fecundity
were calculated 34.86, 43.53, 26.26, 10.46 days, and 618.07 eggs, respectively. In
another study, Farrokhi et al. (2017b) investigated host plant-herbivore-predator
interactions in C. carnea and M. persicae systems on four plant species in laboratory
conditions. Accordingly, peach plant was found to be a more appropriate host than
the other plants for development and predation fitness of C. carnea. These results
revealed that awareness of tritrophic interactions and subsequent life table evaluations of natural enemies improves IPM programs.
Moradi et al. (2019) studied the prey preference of second and third instar larvae
of C. carnea to Aphis spiraecola Patch and Ap. gossypii on orange leaves under
laboratory conditions. Their findings showed that when A. spiraecola or Ap. gossypii
were separately offered to the predator larvae, the predation rate was higher on Ap.
gossypii compared to A. spiraecola. The values of Manly’s preference index in equal
ratios of Ap. gossypii: A. spiraecola (30:30 and 40:40 for second and third instar
larvae, resp.) were calculated 0.632:0.368 and 0.647:0.353, respectively, indicating
the preference of C. carnea larvae for Ap. gossypii.
The influence of experimental complexity and initial prey density (A. fabae) on
consumption rate of green lacewings was investigated by Zarei et al. (2019) who
reported that a more complex microcosm arena significantly weakened the predation
rate of C. carnea. Moreover, the predator life stages (second versus third instar
larvae) differed significantly in terms of prey consumption rate.
5.9 Applied Studies of Lacewings for Pest Management
Despite extensive faunistic research on lacewings, the applied surveys are limited,
which can be partially attributed to executive and financial problems. Some of the
release programs for controlling A. pistaciae in Kerman province showed promising
results in pistachio orchards. The use of green lacewings along with imidacloprid
spray showed good ability to control T. vaporariorum on potato farms; nevertheless, few studies have examined techniques of applying C. carnea for commercial
purposes. Supplementary experiments have been conducted to use the eggs and
larvae of C. carnea for biological control of various pests in field and greenhouse
(Jafari-Nadoushan 1998; Jooyandeh 1999; Rafiee-Karahroudi and Hatami 2003;
Ahmadzadeh and Hatami 2006; Jooyandeh 2009).
The development of efficient methods for commercial release of natural enemies is crucial to the success of augmentative biological control. Jooyandeh (1999)
reported that a mechanical applicator (atomizer sprayer model ECHO DM9) can be
used for distributing the eggs and larvae of C. carnea. Using this method, C. carnea
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M. Hassanpour et al.
biological parameters of C. carnea adults under laboratory conditions. Their results
showed that a mixture of 1:1:1:1 egg yolk, soluble vitamins, yeast, and honey
positively affected the biological traits of the predator. In this research, mean male
and female longevities, oviposition period, post oviposition period, and fecundity
were calculated 34.86, 43.53, 26.26, 10.46 days, and 618.07 eggs, respectively. In
another study, Farrokhi et al. (2017b) investigated host plant-herbivore-predator
interactions in C. carnea and M. persicae systems on four plant species in laboratory
conditions. Accordingly, peach plant was found to be a more appropriate host than
the other plants for development and predation fitness of C. carnea. These results
revealed that awareness of tritrophic interactions and subsequent life table evaluations of natural enemies improves IPM programs.
Moradi et al. (2019) studied the prey preference of second and third instar larvae
of C. carnea to Aphis spiraecola Patch and Ap. gossypii on orange leaves under
laboratory conditions. Their findings showed that when A. spiraecola or Ap. gossypii
were separately offered to the predator larvae, the predation rate was higher on Ap.
gossypii compared to A. spiraecola. The values of Manly’s preference index in equal
ratios of Ap. gossypii: A. spiraecola (30:30 and 40:40 for second and third instar
larvae, resp.) were calculated 0.632:0.368 and 0.647:0.353, respectively, indicating
the preference of C. carnea larvae for Ap. gossypii.
The influence of experimental complexity and initial prey density (A. fabae) on
consumption rate of green lacewings was investigated by Zarei et al. (2019) who
reported that a more complex microcosm arena significantly weakened the predation
rate of C. carnea. Moreover, the predator life stages (second versus third instar
larvae) differed significantly in terms of prey consumption rate.
5.9 Applied Studies of Lacewings for Pest Management
Despite extensive faunistic research on lacewings, the applied surveys are limited,
which can be partially attributed to executive and financial problems. Some of the
release programs for controlling A. pistaciae in Kerman province showed promising
results in pistachio orchards. The use of green lacewings along with imidacloprid
spray showed good ability to control T. vaporariorum on potato farms; nevertheless, few studies have examined techniques of applying C. carnea for commercial
purposes. Supplementary experiments have been conducted to use the eggs and
larvae of C. carnea for biological control of various pests in field and greenhouse
(Jafari-Nadoushan 1998; Jooyandeh 1999; Rafiee-Karahroudi and Hatami 2003;
Ahmadzadeh and Hatami 2006; Jooyandeh 2009).
The development of efficient methods for commercial release of natural enemies is crucial to the success of augmentative biological control. Jooyandeh (1999)
reported that a mechanical applicator (atomizer sprayer model ECHO DM9) can be
used for distributing the eggs and larvae of C. carnea. Using this method, C. carnea
188
M. Hassanpour et al.