Silkworm as alternate host material for rearing of green lace wing, Mallada desjardinsi (Okamoto) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) - a predator of pests of mulberry

Laboratory studies were undertaken to rear Mallada desjardinsi (Okamoto) using two species of silkworms (i.e., Mulberry Silkworm, Bombyx mori L. and Eri Silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini (Boisduval)) as host material. On the B. mori larvae (1^st instar), the total larval duration lasted for 14.6 ± 0.13 days whereas on that of S. c. ricini, it was 14.75 ± 0.19 days at a constant temperature of 25 ± 2°C and 65 ± 5% R.H. A single M. desjardinsi larva on an average consumed 103.35 ± 2.31 and 100.40 ± 2.05 chawki larvae (1^st instar) of B. mori and S. c. ricini, respectively. The sex ratio of male: female was 1:1.4 & 1:1.2 with 78.9 and 69.3 per cent adult emergence, respectively on B. mori and S. c. ricini. The study also revealed that silkworms could be utilized as alternate host material for maintenance of culture as well as production of M. desjardinsi.