Evaluation of native plant species from the olive agro ecosystem to enhance conservation biological control

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the potential of three native plant species from the olive agro ecosystem (corn spurry, Spergula arvensis L., common mallow, Malva neglecta Wallr. and wild fennel, Foeniculum vulgare Miller) to improve Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) fitness in conservation biological control. Both the response of the predator to volatiles produced by the plants as well as the theoretical nectar accessibility in the flower species was studied. Moreover, their impact on the longevity and fecundity of the insect was evaluated. It was shown that C. carnea is theoretically able to make use of any of the tested plants. All the plants have attracted the insect though S. arvensis and the M. neglecta were more often preferred; however longevity was higher in the individuals exposed to F. vulgare and this was alsothe only species where they have oviposited.