The effects of an artificial diet on growth, development, reproduction and digestive physiology of Chrysopa septempunctata Wesmael were determined. The results showed that the reproduction was highly correlated with weights of females and activities of trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like enzymes of C. septempunctata. The influences of diet on the digestive physiology such as digestive enzyme activity of a predator may be used to assess the reproductive potential of a predator, and therefore to provide a way to speed up the development and screening of artificial diets.