Australian Journal of Entomology (2001) 40, 365-370

David P. Logan, Peter G. Allsopp and Myron P. Zalucki (2001)
Effect of body size on fecundity of Childers canegrub, Antitrogus parvulus Britton (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Australian Journal of Entomology 40 (4), 365-370
Abstract: Actual and potential fecundity for Childers canegrub, Antitrogus parvulus Britton, was influenced by the size of females, with the largest females laying the most eggs. Actual or realised fecundity for A. parvulus averaged 18 eggs per female, about half of potential fecundity. Actual fecundity was significantly related to elytron length in a group of laboratory-reared beetles, but not for a group of field-collected beetles. Size was related to potential fecundity for four out of four groups of females collected from emergence traps in the field and for one of two groups reared in the laboratory from field-collected late-instar larvae. As females lay a single batch of eggs, beetle size may be important in the population dynamics of A. parvulus. Populations of A. parvulus with small beetles are potentially less likely to persist and expand than populations with relatively large females.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): David P. Logan, Myron P. Zalucki

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Antitrogus parvulus		Australia (NT+QLD)
	Galerucella placida		Australia (NT+QLD)