SELECTIVE ATTRACTIVITY OF ARTIFICIAL OVERWINTERING CHAMBERS FOR THE COMMON GREEN LACEWING SPECIES OF THE CHRYSOPERLA CARNEA (STEPHENS) COMPLEX IN WESTERN EUROPE (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE)

The aim of this work is to test attractivity of different types of substrats in overwintering chambers for the common green lacewing species. Experiments were carriedout in France near of Angers (48°28’N, 00°33’E) during winter 1999–2000. Sheets and rolls of corrugated cardboard, and staw were used as substrats. Chambers were colonizedby a large numbers of Chrysoperla kolthoffi (NAVAS). The number of lacewings was two times greater in straw than in corrugated cardboard. The suitability of staw was confirmed. Only 5 Chrysoperla carnea s. s. (STEPHENS) were collected, This species seemed to overwinter in more ventilatedcavities than our confinedboxes. Only one Chrysoperla. lucasina (LACROIX) was found. Our device can already be used to improve the number of overwintering Ch. kolthoffi near the crops. In order to develop overwintering chambers as a proper tool for studing overwintering guildstructures further experiments are neededwith Ch.carnea, Ch. lucasina or other species.