NATURAL HISTORY AND BEHAVIOR OF TWO SPECIES OF MACROHALTICA (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE)

W. EBERHARD ； R. ACHOY ； M. C. MARIN ； J. UGALDE

《Psyche: A Journal of Entomology》 1993卷 (1993/12) Pp. 93-119

https://doi.org/10.1155/1993/94094

摘要

The ranges of two interspecifically fertile species of Macro-haltica beetles overlap in central Costa Rica. Some species of food plant were used by both species, others by only one. The two species differed in their abilities to develop on different food plants. Adults of both beetle species tended to occur in large aggregations. Feeding and mating were common in some aggregations, while in others beetles were in apparent reproductive diapause. Beetles in mixed aggregations tended to pair with conspecifics, but many cross-specific pairs also occurred. Although aggregations moved slowly from one host plant to another, membership within at least some aggregations showed substantial turnover. Other aspects of the beetles' natural history, including oviposition behavior, defensive behavior, development and behavior of immatures, dipterous parasites, and fungal infections of adults are also described.