Lights, camera, action! Using cameras to evaluate cannibalism and predation of Chrysoperla rufilabris on egg cards

Chrysoperla rufilabris, a species of green lacewing, is becoming increasingly popular as a biocontrol agent in agroecosystems. There are several popular methods of releasing these insects including hand releases of larvae and eggs, drone releases of larvae, and hanging paper egg cards directly onto crops. When using the egg cards to introduce Chrysoperla rufilabris into apple agroecosystems, observations were made that cannibalism and predation were occurring and influencing the efficacy of this release method. To gain an understanding of what was happening to the insects once the egg cards were placed in the field, two separate trials were set up. One in a laboratory setting and another in a field setting. In the laboratory, cameras were used to track the rate of cannibalism occurring amongst the newly hatched lacewings when food was both available and not available. The following field trial aimed to assess what other predators may be consuming the lacewings by using cameras and UV lights attached to the trees to record any activity occurring on or very close to the egg cards. This presentation will discuss the observations collected during these two trials.