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Title: OBSERVATIONS ON MIDGUT STRUCTURES AND CONTENTS OF CHRYSOPERLA CARNEA (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE)

Author
item CHEN, TIAN-YE - U OF AZ MARICOPA
item CHU, CHANG CHI
item HU, CUI - ZHEJIAN UNIV PRC
item MU, JI-YUAN - SHANDONG UNIV PRC
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/17/2006
Publication Date: 9/1/2006
Citation: Chen, T., Chu, C., Hu, C., Mu, J., Henneberry, T.J. 2006. Observations on midgut structures and contents of chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: chrysopidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 99(5): 917-919.

Interpretive Summary: Using electron microscopy, the anatomical structure of green lacewing guts were compared between larvae and adults. The study revealed that there were numerous bacteria throughout the lumen of larval midgut enclosed by the peritrophic membrane It appears that the bacteria may serve to decompose the residues occurring in the midgut lumen. Bacteria were found much less frequently in the adult midgut as compared with the larval midgut. These and other knowledge on feeding behavior will help in developing new artificial diets.

Technical Abstract: A study of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) midgut structures and contents was conducted using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Numerous bacteria were found throughout the lumen of larval midgut enclosed by the peritrophic membrane, which appeared in two layers. Since midguts are not open to the hindguts, the bacteria may serve to decompose the residues occurring in the midgut lumen. Additionally, some yeast cells, although not abundant, were also found in the larval midgut. Bacteria were found much less frequently in the adult midgut as compared with the larval midgut. But a number of yeast cells were observed in the lumen of the adult midgut. No obvious peritrophic membrane was observed in the adult midgut. Chrysopidae, green lacewings, have long been considered important biological control agents (Canard et al. 1984, Tauber et al. 2000). Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) and Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) are the most commonly used species in biological control programs in North America and Europe (Tauber et al. 2000). Significant new development of artificial diets can reduce the cost and increase the availability and reliability of mass-reared Chrysoperla spp. Knowledge of the feeding habitats and characteristics of digestive systems will help in developing new artificial diets.