RESPONCE OF CHRYSOPERLA CORNEA ON DIFFERENT DIETS OF HONEY: COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF DIFFERENT SOURCES OF HONEY BASED ARTIFICIAL DIETS ON A FEW BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF CHRYSOPERLA CARNEA (STEPHENS)

The present research work was conducted in the Biological Control Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during 2009. The objective of this study was, to enhance the longevity and fecundity of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), through improving the artificial diet of its adults. The experiment comprised seven treatments; of which six composed of honey, water and yeast, in a ratio of 1:1:1 and one that of control. The honey used in five of these, was collected from different plant sources, whereas, that employed in the one meant for the inclusion of Vitamin-E, was the common honey. The control treatment, however, comprised the pre-existing standard diet (common honey + water + yeast in 1:1:1 ratio), already being used in the bio-control lab. The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) and each treatment was repeated thrice.