Functional Response of the Predator Chrysoperla carnea larvae to the Eggs of Tomato Moth, Tuta absoluta

This study was conducted at College of Sciences-Mustansiriyah University, aimed to examine the functional response of predator green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stefens) (Neuroptera: chrysopidae) The predator is one of the important natural enemies of members of the family Gelechiidae eggs. Result obtained showed that the curves of functional response of the predator green lacewing, C. carnea larvae on various densities of tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) eggs showed that the larvae of predator belong to second type (Cyrtoid) of functional response. The rate of attack coefficient (a) increased, whereas the handling time (Th) was reduced, and the highest attack coefficient was 2.558 for the 2nd larval stage and the lowest attack coefficient was 1.509 for the 3rd larval stage. However, the highest handling time was 23.274 minutes for 2nd larval stage and the lowest handling time was 10.651 minutes for 1st larval stage. Keywords: Handling time, attack coefficient, Chrysoperla carnea, Tuta absoluta, functional response.