Flight mill performance of the lacewing Chrysoperla sinica (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) as a function of age, temperature, and relative humidity

The lacewing Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is an important predator of several insect pests in China and has considerable potential as a biological control agent. An inoculative approach would be the releasing adults early in the season to ensure that populations are present before pest densities increase. However, an understanding of adult flight activity under different conditions is necessary to develop appropriate release strategies. Therefore, we used a 32-channel, computer-monitored flight mill system to determine the effect of age on the flight activity of unmated female and male adults. Both sexes had high total flight activity levels as well as the longest individual flight bouts 2 and 3 d after emergence. The effects of temperature (between 13 and 33 degrees C at 75% RH) and relative humidity (between 30 and 90% RH at 23 degrees C) on the flight activity of 3-d-old unmated adults also were determined. Flight activity declined at the lowest (13 degrees C) and highest (33 degrees C) temperatures tested, as well as at the lowest relative humidity (30% RH). These findings are discussed within the context of selecting the appropriate environmental conditions for releasing C. sinica.