Prey instar preference and functional responses of 2- and 3-instar Mallada basalis (Walker) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) larvae to 1- to 3-instar Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) nymphs and adults were assessed in laboratory. Results indicated that both 2- and 3-instar M. basalis larvae preferred young over old P. solenopsis nymphs and adults were the least preferred. The 3-instar M. basalis larvae preyed more adult P. solenopsis than 2-instar larvae. Mallada basalis exhibited type II functional responses to prey densities: An increase in prey density leads to an increase in consumed preys. Regardless of P. solenopsis stages, the number of preys consumed by the 3-instar M. basalis larvae was greater than that by the 2-instar larvae. Attack rates and handling times differed depending on prey and predator stage combinations. The highest attack rate (1.1874) and lowest handling time (0.0040 h) were observed for the 3-instar M. basalis larvae fed on the 1-instar P. solenopsis nymphs. Regardless of P. solenopsis stages, the attack rate of 3-instar M. basalis was greater than 2-instar, whereas the reverse held regarding handling time. The findings collectively indicated that 3-instar M. basalis larvae have greater potential than 2-instar as efficient biological control agent of P. solenopsis. In developing real world biological control programs, however, the 2-instar M. basalis may be released if necessary since the final efficacy of the predator is the summation of the 2- and 3-instar M. basalis.

在实验室评估了2 龄和 3 龄Mallada basalis (Walker)（神经翅目：Chrysopidae）幼虫对 1 至 3 龄Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley（半翅目：Pseudococcidae）若虫和成虫的偏好和功能反应。结果表明，2 龄和 3 龄期的M. basalis幼虫都偏爱年轻而不是年老的P. solenopsis若虫，成虫最不偏爱。3 龄M. basalis幼虫比 2 龄幼虫捕食更多的成年P. solenopsis。Mallada basalis对猎物密度表现出 II 型功能反应：猎物密度的增加导致消耗的猎物增加。不管P. solenopsis阶段，3 龄M. basalis幼虫消耗的猎物数量大于 2 龄幼虫。攻击率和处理时间因猎物和捕食者阶段组合而异。观察到以1 龄P. solenopsis若虫为食的 3 龄M. basalis幼虫的最高攻击率 (1.1874) 和最低处理时间 (0.0040 h) 。无论P. solenopsis阶段如何，3 龄M. basalis的攻击率都大于 2 龄，而处理时间则相反。研究结果共同表明，3 龄期的M. basalis幼虫作为有效生物防治剂比 2 龄期具有更大的潜力。P. 茄属植物。然而，在开发现实世界的生物控制程序时，如果有必要，可能会释放2 龄M. basalis，因为捕食者的最终功效是 2 龄和 3 龄M. basalis的总和。