Effect of different crape myrtle cultivars on the survival of green lacewing, Chrysoperla rufilabris in laboratory conditions

Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) is a popular ornamental plant known for its vibrant flowers and attractive bark. However, crape myrtles are particularly susceptible to infestation by the crape myrtle aphid (Tinocallis kahawaluokalani), with resistance varying significantly among different cultivars.Crape myrtle cultivars vary in their production of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolics. These compounds can affect the aphids' physiology and, subsequently, the nutritional quality and palatability of the aphids to predators, such as lacewing larvae. It is unclear whether crape myrtle resistance to aphids is due to a reduction in aphid feeding on the plants or an increase in predation on those aphids. To understand this interaction better, we fed green lacewing larvae (Chrysoperla rufilabris) with aphids reared on different crape myrtle cultivars (e.g. ‘Carolina Beauty’, ‘Miami’, ‘Muskogee’, ‘Ebony Flame’, ‘Ebony Fire’, and ‘Ebony Embers’) and a control with Ephestia eggs. Larvae fed with aphids had a longer larval duration and higher mortality compared to the controls. The survival of green lacewing larvae depends heavily on the quality of their prey. The results of this and future studies will help us understand the interaction between crape myrtle aphid resistance and the impact of plant resistance traits on aphid predators.