Which adult diet is better? Comparative analyses of carbohydrate and protein rich diets on growth and reproduction of Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson)

Background: A comparative study was conducted in the Bio-control laboratory, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Odisha, India during 2020-21 and 2021-22 to determine the effects of different combination of carbohydrate and protein source artificial diets on larval duration, egg hatchability and sex ratio of green lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson).Six adult diets i.e. ,Diet 1 (Water,Honey and Protinex), Diet 2 (Water, Honey and Castor pollen), Diet 3 (Water, Honey, Protinex and Castor pollen), Diet 4 (Water, Molasses and Protinex), Diet 5 (Water, Molasses and Castor pollen) and Diet 6 (Water, Molasses, Protinex and Castor pollen) were evaluated along with check (Diet 7 =Water and Honey). Results : Maximum developmental period of first, second and third instar larvae i.e., 3.40 days, 3.10 days and 3.16 days were recorded in Diet 1, respectively followed by Diet 3 i.e., 3.37 days, 3.07 days and 3.12 days, respectively.Highest egg hatching percentage of 98.78% was recorded in Diet 1 with 6.90% increase in egg hatching percentage over check (Diet 7)followedby 97.89% and 97.56% in Diet 3 and Diet 2 with 5.94% and 5.59% increase in egg hatching percentage over control, respectively.Most desirable female-biased sex ratio (male: female) was observed in Diet 1 i.e., 1:1.86 followed by Diet 3 i.e., 1:1.79 and Diet 2 i.e., 1:1.74. Conclusions: It is clear that feeding adults a fresh food would improve the survivability and predatory efficiency of Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi larvae. The development and growth of this predator can be enhanced with a semi-defined diet. In comparison to natural foods like nectars, diets high in carbohydrates and protein are more suited to and convenient for adults when raising green lacewings in large numbers.