Nutritional Studies on an Aphidophagous Chrysopid, Chrysopa septempunctata WESMAEL(Neuroptera:Chrysopidae) : II. Amino Acid Requirement for Larval Development

Abstract

The amino acids required for the larval development of a lacewing, Chrysopa septempunctata, was investigated using chemically defined diets. The composition of the basic diet consisted of 23 amino acids (AA), sucrose, cholesterol, 6 fatty acids, 5 organic acids, 11 minerals and 17 vitamins. Five AA (β-alanine, glutamine, asparagine, cystine and γ-aminobutyric acid) could be omitted with no deterioration in larval development. No larvae could molt to the 2nd instar on diets lacking any of the "essential" 10 amino acids. Diets with only these 10 essential AA sustained larval development with some deterioration. When the quantity of amino acids was low, the larval period was prolonged.