Life-history parameters of Chrysoperla carnea s.l. fed on spontaneous plant species and insect honeydews: importance for conservation biological control

Chrysoperla carnea s.l. (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) larvae are generalist predators feeding on many crop pests while adults feed on non-prey food. The knowledge about the nutritional suitability of non-prey food for adults in agroecosystems is crucial to establish conservation biological control strategies and is poorly known in olive groves, where C. carnea s.l. larvae prey on different pests. In this study, the effect of honeydew secreted by two hemipteran olive tree secondary pests and 11 plant species on the life-history parameters (survival, reproduction and development time) of C. carnea s.l. were analyzed. Insect pest honeydew from the olive agroecosystem and several plant species, blooming throughout the year, were found to improve C. carnea s.l. adult survival. Pollen consumption seems to be essential for reproduction. These findings are important for designing and implementing new conservation biological control approaches.