ABSTRACT: Green and brown lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae, respectively) are important generalist predators in Pacific Northwest, United States pear and apple orchards. Both lacewing groups are recognized by orchardists and pest managers for their role in biological control, but the species complex and monitoring strategies within and around orchards is not well defined. The two studies detailed herein sought to describe the lacewing species complex and their response to lure-baited traps in Washington State pear and apple orchards and surrounding native vegetation. Experiment one compared Neuroptera capture (species composition and overall capture) among yellow sticky traps baited with and without methyl salicylate (MeSa) containing amber glass vial lures in pear orchards, apple orchards, and surrounding native vegetation. Experiment two compared capture among four lure treatments (glass vial MeSa lures, glass vial squalene lures, “dual-lures” with both glass vial squalene and MeSa lures, and commercially-constructed controlled-release MeSa lures) on yellow sticky traps against a check in pear orchards and surrounding native habitat. MeSa lures were attractive to a broad range of Chrysopidae (Chrysopa nigricornis Burmeister, Chrysopa coloradensis Banks, and Chrysoperla plorabunda (Fitch)) in both experiments and all habitats, while in experiment two, squalene was highly attractive to only C. nigricornis. The “dual-lure” treatment attracted significantly more C. nigricornis than other lures, and C. coloradensis was significantly more attracted to MeSa lures than other lures. Our findings demonstrate that monitoring traps baited with both squalene and MeSa can improve capture of some Chrysopidae.</p
