【目的】 探明叉角厉蝽Eocanthecona furcellata对斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura的捕食能力，为叉角厉蝽应用于田间防治能达到理想防治效果提供理论依据。【方法】 以养虫盒为测试容器，在室内设叉角厉蝽不同虫龄（1头/盒）捕食不同密度的斜纹夜蛾低龄（2龄）、中龄（4龄）和高龄（6龄）幼虫，统计叉角厉蝽不同组合的捕食量并进行相关分析。采用捕食功能反应的方法评估叉角厉蝽3龄、4龄、5龄若虫和雌成虫对斜纹夜蛾低龄、中龄和高龄幼虫的捕食能力、捕食效能和搜寻效应。【结果】 所有虫龄叉角厉蝽对斜纹夜蛾各龄期幼虫的捕食功能反应均符合Holling Ⅱ型方程。在低龄幼虫捕食中，各虫龄叉角厉蝽日均捕食量最高为5.6-7.0头，捕食率随密度升高下降幅度为45.00%-58.33%，5龄若虫在高密度下捕食率显著高于3龄若虫（P<0.05）。在中龄幼虫捕食中，各虫龄叉角厉蝽日均捕食量最高为4.6-6.6头，捕食率随密度升高下降幅度为48.33%-65.00%，5龄若虫和雌成虫的捕食率显著高于3龄若虫（P<0.05）。在高龄幼虫捕食中，各虫龄叉角厉蝽日均捕食量最高为4.0-5.4头，捕食率随密度升高下降幅度为50.00%-58.33%，5龄若虫和雌成虫的捕食率显著高于3龄若虫（P<0.05）。针对低龄和中龄幼虫，反映捕食效能的综合指标（a/T_h）和日最大捕食量（1/T_h）呈现叉角厉蝽龄期递增规律，而针对高龄幼虫，捕食效能强弱顺序为5龄若虫＞雌成虫＞4龄若虫＞3龄若虫。叉角厉蝽对斜纹夜蛾幼虫的搜寻效应随幼虫密度的增加而降低，在同一猎物密度下叉角厉蝽的搜寻效应表现为雌成虫和5龄若虫最为突出，但各虫龄叉角厉蝽随着斜纹夜蛾幼虫虫龄增长，搜寻效应逐渐下降。【结论】 在田间应用时，优先选择在斜纹夜蛾种群处于幼虫早期阶段进行释放，并考虑田间应用的长效防控，建议选择叉角厉蝽5龄若虫。

[Aim]  To evaluate the predatory efficiency of Eocanthecona furcellata on Spodoptera litura larvae, thereby determining the potential for using E. furcellata for sustainable pest management in the field. [Methods]  Laboratory experiments were conducted using insect-rearing chambers, where individual E. furcellata of different developmental stages (3rd, 4th, and 5th instar nymphs, and adult females; 1 individual per chamber) were exposed to different densities of early, middle, and late-instar S. litura larvae. Predation rates across each predator-prey combination were quantified and correlated. The HollingⅡfunctional response model was employed to evaluate predatory capacity, efficiency metrics (attack rate, handling time, a/T_h, and 1/T_h), and the search efficiency of E. furcellata instars for each larval stage of S. litura. [Results]  The functional responses of all E. furcellata developmental stages to all S. litura instars were of the Holling type II model. Daily predation maxima on early instar prey ranged from 5.6-7.0 individuals per predator, with predation rates declining by 45.00%-58.33% at elevated densities. 5th instar nymphs had significantly higher predation rates than 3rd instar nymphs under high-density conditions (P<0.05). Maximum daily consumption of middle-instar larvae reached 4.6-6.6 individuals, declining by 48.33%-65.00% at elevated prey densities. 5th instar nymphs and adult females outperformed 3rd instar nymphs (P<0.05). For late instar prey, maximum predation rates were 4.0-5.4 individuals/d, declining by 50.00%-58.33% at elevated prey densities. 5th instar nymphs and adults outperformed other age classes (P<0.05). Composite predatory efficiency indices (a/T_h) and daily maximum consumption rates (1/T_h) increased progressively with predator age-class when preying on early and mid-instar prey, whereas for late-instar prey, predatory efficiency could be ranked as follows: 5th instar nymphs > adult females > 4th instar nymphs > 3rd instar nymphs. Search efficiency declined significantly with increasing prey density (P<0.01), with adults and 5th instar nymphs exhibiting optimal foraging capacity at equivalent densities. However, the search efficiency of all predator instars declined against older S. litura larval instars. [Conclusion]  Releases of E. furcellata should be synchronous, targeting the early larval stages of S. litura populations, with the strategic deployment of 5th instar nymphs to ensure sustained control.