Abstract
The suspension velocity of the Colorado potato beetle was determined for four stages of its life cycle. Suspension velocities measured using an experimental video technique agreed reasonably well with theoretical values. Suspension velocities for the adults, fourth, third, and second instars were 9.4, 9.5, 7.3, and 5.9 m/sec, respectively.
Recent experimental results suggest that a large percentage of adults and large larvae of the Colorado potato beetle are missed during a single pass of commercial field scale vacuum insect collectors. The relatively low suspension velocity of free falling small larvae explain, at least in part, why only 3% of the small larvae fell to the ground.
Compendio
La velocidad de suspensión del escarabajo de la papa de Colorado fue determinada por cuatro etapas de su ciclo de vida. Las velocidades de suspensión medidas usando una técnica experimental de video correspondieron razonablemente bien con los valores teóricos. Las velocidades de suspensión para los adultos, cuarto, tercero y segundo estadios, fueron 9.4, 9.5, 7.3, y 5.9 m/seg. respectivamente.
Recientes resultados experimentales sugieren que un gran porcentaje de adultos y de larvas grandes del escarabajo de la papa de Colorado, se pierden durante una sola pasada de las aspiradoras colectoras de insectos a escala comercial de campo.
La velocidad de suspensión, en caída libre, relativamente baja de las larvas pequeñas explica, por lo menos en parte, porqué sólo un 3 % de esas larvas cayeron al suelo.
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Misener, G.C., Boiteau, G. Suspension velocity of the Colorado potato beetle in free fall. American Potato Journal 70, 309–316 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02851424
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02851424