I want to work on Chrysoperla spp. for controlling spider mite pests. I need published literature on every aspects related to this topic. Kindly help and guide me, thanks
Chrysoperla spp. is a general predator of insects, it can feed on the spider mite, but these are not effective predators for controlling the spider mites.
I have some not published experiments with the larvae of Chrysoperla carnea species complex on Tetranychus urticae. When spider mites have a web on the plant, this is a considerable difficulty for L1 lacewing larvae. Older larvae may surmount to this nuisance. The performance of lacewing larvae may be also a question. Regarding, that Ch. carnea is a species complex, you should know which species you want to work with.
One test conducted in China showed that green lacewing, Chrysoperla sinica Tjeder, was very effective for controlling citrus spider mites by releasing the predator 1st-instar larvae vs mites as 1:100~200. In other case, when the predator was released with the ratio of predator vs prey as 1∶500~600, the mites was controlled seven days later.
Neuroptera are good predators, but do a google scholar careful search. The best family, that do feed on mites is the family Coniopterygidae. Some of the species only feed on mites... Dr. John Oswald has the Neuropterida database, check in the internet. My colleague Dr. G. Miller did work on this and he said there is a lot of potential in this family. He did help me with the information. Check the literature and the family.
Chrysoperla spp are good and generalist predators including spidermites. However their effectiveness is much dependent on tritrophic relationship. The host plant should encourage the predator much.
The Chrysopidae family includes important predator species with adults feeding on plant nectar and pollen, whereas larvae show preference for certain soft-bodied prey such as aphids, whiteflies, thrips, eggs and larvae of lepidopterans and acari (Rimoldi et al. 2008).