Population dynamics of Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Petersen) fed with different hosts: Prospects for mass rearing and augmentative release

Accurate demographic projections are essential for identifying prey diets that enhance predator efficiency in augmentative biological control. The population of lacewing, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Petersen) (CZS) was projected on four hosts including sterilized and unsterilized Corcyra cephalonica eggs, C. cephalonica neonates, and Tribolium castaneum using TIMING-MSChart program. The largest adult population of C. zastrowi sillemi was noted when reared on unsterilized eggs, reaching around 57000 adults after 60 days, compared to 51000 adults when reared on sterilized eggs. Population projection curves confirmed a faster build-up on unsterilized eggs, primarily due to enhanced juvenile survival and early adult fecundity. However, reliance on unsterilized eggs entails cannibalism, biosecurity risks, including pathogen and parasitoid contamination. These findings demonstrate that diet quality decisively shapes predator demography and establish sterilized C. cephalonica eggs as the most practical and reliable prey resource for insectary production and augmentative release of C. zastrowi sillemi.