ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Insect Sci.
Sec. Insect Physiology
Volume 5 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/finsc.2025.1680910
Effects of pre-adult photoperiod experience on reproductive parameters of Chrysoperla nipponensis (Tjeder): potential implications for mass-rearing of natural enemies
Provisionally accepted
- 1Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
- 2Shandong Institute of Sericulture, Yantai, China
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Photoperiod is a critical environmental factor for insect development and physiology, yet little is known about the effects of photoperiodic signals received during photoperiod-sensitive stages on reproductive parameters. The green lacewing, Chrysoperla nipponensis, is a promising candidate for mass rearing in biological control. Photoperiod is the primary environmental factor influencing C. nipponensis reproductive diapause. This study investigates how photoperiodic cues during photoperiod-sensitive stages affect key reproductive parameters such as fecundity, lifespan, oviposition duration, oviposition rate, diapause rate, pre-oviposition period, and lipid content of C. nipponensis. The results showed that short-day conditions (Light: Dark=9h: 15h; L9: D15) during pre-adult stages increase total lipid and triglyceride levels in both third larvae and newly emerged females, thereby enhancing fecundity of female, without reducing lifespan or oviposition. Furthermore, long-day conditions (Light: Dark=15h: 9h; L15: D9) during the pre-adult stage inhibited diapause, while increasing fecundity and extending oviposition duration. Our findings demonstrate that photoperiodic signals during the pre-adult stages significantly affect the reproductive parameters of C. nipponensis, which advances the understanding of photoperiod-dependent reproductive diapause and offers novel insights for optimizing strategies in mass-rearing of natural enemies.
Keywords: photoperiod, Reproduction, diapause, Green Lacewing, fecundity
Received: 06 Aug 2025; Accepted: 04 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Kong, Xu, Li, Zhong, Li, Xu and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Zhenzhen Chen, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
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