Folia entomologica hungarica

Author(s): Jermy, T. & Szentesi, Á.
Title: Life cycle of a European seed beetle species, Bruchidius pauper (Boheman, 1829) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae)
Year: 2010
Volume: 71
Pages: 47-52.

Abstract: Regarding their life cycles, all European seed beetle species were considered univoltine, overwintering as adults. Rearing Bruchidius pauper from the legumes of Coronilla coronata in a field insectary during 2008–2009 showed an exceptional life cycle: the larvae reached full growth in late autumn and entered winter diapause; they pupated only in mid-May to mid-June of the next year, and the adults emerged in mid-June to mid-July. Egg-laying began after the legumes reached full length, and it lasted about one month. The females might assess the presence of seeds as they avoided flat, seedless legume segments. In the less infested legume samples the eggs were evenly distributed, this might indicate some epideictic mechanism. Larval behaviour is described in detail. B. pauper did not occur in samples of Securigera varia and Anthyllis vulneraria which have been mentioned by earlier authors as hosts.
Keywords: subspecies, Coronilla coronata, C. vaginalis, Securigera varia, Anthyllis vulneraria, Bruchidius pusillus, egg-laying behaviour, resource assessment, epideictic mechanism, larval behaviour, diapause
Subject: entomology

Journal: Folia entomologica hungarica
Journal abbreviation: Folia ent. hung.
ISSN: 0373-9465
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Merkl, O.