QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF CHRYSOPERLA RUFILABRIS (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE) PRODUCERS IN CALIFORNIA

Authors

  • Cressida S. Silvers
  • Joseph G. Morse
  • Elizabeth E. Grafton-Cardwell

Abstract

Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) egg shipments from three commercial California insectaries were evaluated during a nine-month period. All three insectaries shipped similar numbers of eggs per unit weight (range 301.0 ± 10.3 to 315.4 ± 7.8 eggs/25 mg). Estimated total number of eggs per shipment for all three insectaries was between 1.80 and 3.30 times the number ordered (1,000). The estimated number of dead eggs per shipment ranged from 76.0 to 418.0 and the estimated number of larvae per shipment ranged from 0 to 9.9. Final hatch rates for all three insectaries were between 70.9% and 73.9%. Hatch began on the third day after shipment receipt and 70% of total hatch had occurred by the fourth day. Implications for timing of egg and larval releases are discussed.

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Published

2002-12-01

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Section

Literature Review Articles