Annals of the Entomological Society of America (1997) 90, 433-437
Jan J. Jackson (1997)
Biology of Aphthona nigriscutis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the laboratory
Annals of the Entomological Society of America 90 (4), 433-437
Abstract: The flea beetle Aphthona nigriscutis Foudras was introduced to Canada in 1983 and the United States in 1989 for the biological control of leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula L. Life history data for A. nigriscutis are described based on laboratory studies using insect populations from Barnes County, North Dakota, and Fallon County, Montana. Initial emergence of males and females from spring soil samples was synchronized, but complete emergence for males preceded that of females. For the Barnes County population, ~80% of the adults were female. When adults were held as mated pairs at 25°C and a photoperiod of 14: 10 (L:D) h, male longevity was longer than that of the female with a median longevity of 221 and 124 d, respectively. Oviposition started ~10 d after female emergence and proceeded at a rate of 4 eggs per day over an average oviposition period of 109 d. Oviposition averaged 537 eggs per female with a range of 103-1,157. Eggs from the Fallon County population started to hatch within 10 d after oviposition when eggs were held at 25°C. Egg hatch averaged near 60% and occurred over a period of ~8 d. Life history data for A. nigriscutis were similar to other univoltine Aphthona spp., except A. nigriscutis had a female-biased sex ratio, greater male longevity, and higher female oviposition.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
population dynamics/epizootiology
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euphorbia virgata (weed) | U.S.A. (NW) | |||
| Euphorbia virgata (weed) | U.S.A. (mid N) | |||
| Aphthona nigriscutis (weed bioagent) | Euphorbia virgata (weed) | U.S.A. (NW) | ||
| Aphthona nigriscutis (weed bioagent) | Euphorbia virgata (weed) | U.S.A. (mid N) |
