It was aimed to study some biological aspects in the adult stage of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) when the larvae of predator were fed both nymphs and adult females of Planococcus citri (Risso). The experiment was conducted in climate chamber at 25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% of RH and 12-h photophase. The adults of C. externa whose larvae were fed nymphs at the three instars and adult females of mealybug were separated by sex and 25 couples were individualized in cages of PVC determining sex ratio, pre-oviposition period, daily and total oviposition for 40 days on end, longevity, embryonic period and survival rate of eggs. It was found that the nymphs at the three instars and adult females given as food did not affect sex ratio, pre-oviposition period, embryonic period and longevity of adults of C. externa. The daily and total egg production by C. externa was affected by the sort of food given to the predator during the larval stage, observing a greater production when the couples were fed at the larval stage with adults females of mealybug. By assessing egg production, a higher concentration of oviposition on the first ten days of the reproductive period was found, decreasing in the next evaluations. The survival rates of eggs not differ in function of feed in the different stages of development of prey that was consumed by differents predator larvae stage.
Green lacewing; predatory capacity; citrus mealybug; biology
