Green lacewings are mainly predatory insects. Their larvae feed on mites, aphids, and whiteflies, and are highly aggressive and cannibalistic in confined quarters. Thus they are often used as biological control agents in organic agriculture or protective cultivation. The use of green lacewings ensures human health and agri-food safety and provides cost-effective and environmentally benign long-term control of insect pests.

    Mass rearing of green lacewing on commercial scale usually relies on diets of aphids and rice moth eggs. However, the operation of this technique is cumbersome and costly. To effectively streamline the production process and reduce the production costs, TARI scientists have developed microcapsulated artificial diets to replace insect-based diets. This artificial liquid diet is made from honey, sugar and chicken egg, and is microcapsulated with bee wax. This improved, simplified, and labor-saving technique can be employed for year-round mass-rearing of green lacewing larvae.