Predatory Response of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) Feeding on the Euonymus Aphid, Aphis fabae Solanella Theobald (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Kashmir

Abstract

The functional response and numerical response of third instar larvae of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) feeding on the Euonymus aphid, Aphis fabae solanella Theobald, which is a key pest of Euonymus japonicus L. in Kashmir were investigated. The Type II functional response curve exhibited a curvilinear rise to plateau as the aphid densities increased and the curve predicted by Holling's disk equation did not differ significantly from the observed functional response curve. The attack rate and the handling time predicted by disk equation were 0.54 and 2.17, respectively. The attack rate (a) increased with the increase of prey (aphid) density. The numerical response curve had a linear rise to a plateau at fixed aphid density with varying density of C. carnea