BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF Chrysoperla carnea (STEPH.) (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE) PREDATOR WHEN FEEDING ON Icerya aegyptiaca (DOUGLAS) AND Pectinophora gossypiella (SAUNDERS) EGGS

Biological aspects of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea Steph were studied on the Egyptian fluted mealybug, Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) (Homoptera : Margarodidae) and the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)  (Lepidoptera : Gelechiidae) eggs in laboratory at the Scale Insects and Mealybug Research Department, and Bollworm Research Department, Plant Protection Institute, ARC during 2006 year. The biological aspects of the larval stages of predatory were affected by temperature and prey egg types. The incubation period was approximately similar when C. carnea feeds on I. aegyptiaca and P. gossypiella  eggs, while, the larval period, when feeds on I. aegyptiaca eggs are longer than feeds on P. gossypiella eggs also, the duration of larval periods was decreased by temperature increasing. It could be concluded that I. aegyptiaca was approximately favourable eggs for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd larval instars of C. carnea. Under two constant temperatures (25+2 and 30+2ºC) and by feeding on I. aegyptiaca eggs, the larvae lived for the longest times than when feed on P. gossypiella eggs. Longest adult's life span of C. carnea was recorded at 25+2°C when feeds on I. aegyptiaca eggs. The daily and total number of deposited eggs/female are affected by both temperature and type of food offered to larval stages and to adults. Longevity of female and male are long, where larvae feed on I. aegyptiaca eggs than P. gossypiella eggs and the adults feeds on artificial diet. The total eggs of P. gossypiella, which consumed by larval instars more than the eggs of I. aegyptiaca that consumed at 25+2 and 30+2°C. It can be saying that eggs of I. aegyptiaca or P. gossypiella suitable to complete its lifespan. The potential biological control agent by using C. carnea against different species of mealybugs and also against bollworms was considered.