Chemical extracts of plants as possible attractants for the green lacewing Chrysoperia carnea (Planipennia, Chrysopidae)

Fifty-two plant species of 21 families were tested for their attractiveness as oviposition sites to the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Planipennia, Chrysopidae) in oviposition experiments. Borago officinalis, Myosotis arvensis (Boraginaceae), Chelidonium majus and Papaver rhoeas (Papaveraceae) were chosen significantly more often in choice experiments than the plants they were paired with. In a subsequent laboratory experiment with a Y-olfactometer, 25 plant species were tested for their aptitude as potential attractants for C. carnea. Of the methanol and petroleum ether extracts, the petroleum ether extracts of C. majus and M. arvensis were chosen significantly more often than the controls. No significant preference was found for either of the other plant extracts. Based on the results of these experiments, secondary plant compounds of Chelidonium majus (Papaveraceae) and Myosotis arvensis (Boraginaceae) are proposed as potential new attractants for C. carnea.