Functional Response of Chrysoperla carnea on Two Different Aphid Species (Aphis fabae and Acyrthosiphon pisum)

In this study, it was tried to determine the amount of prey consumed by Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) at varying prey densities and its potency in reducing the population of the pest. Aphids used as nutrients [Aphis fabae Scopoli and Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Hemiptera: Aphididae)] were given to each larval stage (InstarI, InstarII, InstarIII) of the predator in certain numbers (5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160). According to the data obtained, an increase in the amount of food consumed by C. carnea was observed depending on the food density given. The attack coefficient (a) and handling time (Th) were also calculated separately for each larval period. These values were 1.12 and 23.62 min, respectively, when the third stage larvae of the predator were fed with A. fabae; while these values were found to be 1.11 and 21.89 min, respectively, when fed with A. pisum.