Seasonal occurrence and biological parameters of the common green lacewing predators of the common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae (Hemiptera: Psylloidea)

Abstract

Species in the carnea complex of the common green lacewing are predators of the common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae in both cultivated pistachio plantations and on wild pistachio plants in Iran. The seasonal occurrence of common green lacewings was monitored in pistachio orchards from 2007 to 2008. In addition, the effect of different temperature regimes on preimaginal development, survival and prey consumption of the predatory lacewing Chrysoperla lucasina fed on A. pistaciae nymphs were studied under controlled conditions. The adults of common green lacewings first appeared on pistachio trees in mid April and were most abundant in early July, decreased in abundance in summer and increased again in October. The relative density of common green lacewings was higher in pistachio orchards where the ground was covered with herbaceous weeds than in those without weeds. In the laboratory females of C. lucasina laid an average of 1085 eggs over 60 days at 22.5°C. The maximum prey consumption occurred at 35°C when the larvae consumed 1812 fourth instar psyllid nymphs during their larval period. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was 0.11. The total development (egg-adult) required 385 degree-days above the theoretical lower developmental threshold of 9.6°C.

Keywords

• chrysopidae
• lacewings
• chrysoperla lucasina
• psylloidea
• agonoscena pistaciae
• pistachio psylla
• population density
• weeds
• intrinsic rate of increase
• theoretical threshold
• food consumption
• biological control