Immature development of the common green lacewing,Chrysoperla(=Chrysopa)carneaStephens, requires 20.5, 21.6, and 24.9 d at 27°C, with a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D), when fedOstrinia nubilalis(Hübner) (European corn borer) eggs,Agrotis ipsilonHufnagel (black cutworm) eggs, andA. ipsilonneonates, respectively. Twenty-six to 40% of the individuals died when reared on eggs, 65% died when reared onA. ipsilonneonates, and all died when fedO. nubilalisneonates. Mortality ofChrysoperla carnealarvae onO. nubilalisneonates was due to entanglement in the silk produced by these larvae. An average of 377 ± 7 O.nubilaliseggs, 641 ± 43A. ipsiloneggs, and 2,056 ± 148A. ipsilonneonates were preyed upon byChrysoperla carneaduring larval development.Chrysoperla carneaandChrysopa oculataSay first instars were unable to survive on stalk borer,Papaipema nebris(Guenée), eggs. More than 80% ofChrylsopa oculatalarvae, reared on corn leaf aphids,Rhopalosiphum maidis(Fitch), as first and second instars and then switched toP. nebriseggs died as third instars, whereas only 30% of similarly rearedChrysoperla carneathird instars died. The most suitable prey, resulting in the fastest development with highest survival, forChrysoperla carneawereO. nubilalisandA. ipsiloneggs;R. maidiswas most favorable forChrysopa oculata.