Abstract
The life cycle and abundance of the tansy ragwort flea beetle,Longitarsus jacobaeae (Waterhouse), were investigated in a dune area in the Netherlands. The beetle overwinters in the egg stage, which is parasitised by a Mymarid wasp. No larvae were found until spring. Three larval instars can be separated by head capsule size and coloration. Initial larval numbers are high (up to 214 larvae per plant), but drop to very low levels by late spring. Adults appear during June or July, the numbers are high until October, the adults can be found until the end of December. This life cycle differs remarkably from those described for the species in Switzerland, Italy and Britain. Possible causes for these differences are discussed, as well as implications for the use ofLongitarsus in biological control.
Résumé
Le cycle biologique et l'abondance de la chrysomèleLongitarsus jacobaeae (Waterhouse) ont été étudiés dans les dunes littorales de Hollande. L'espèce hiverne à l'état d'œuf. Les œufs peuvent être parasités par un hyménoptère Mymaridae. On ne peut pas trouver de larves avant le printemps. Il y a 3 stades larvaires qu'on peut distinguer par la mesure et la couleur de leur capsule céphalique. Au début, il y a beaucoup de larves par plante infestée (jusqu'à 214); en fin de printemps leur nombre est fortement réduit. Les adults apparaissent en Juin et Juillet et ils sont communs jusqu'en Octobre. Mais on peut les trouver normalement jusqu'à la fin de Décembre. Ce cycle est nettement différent de celui décrit pour l'espèce en Suisse, en Italie et en Grande Bretagne. Ces différences et les conséquences pour la lutte biologique contre le Séneçon avecLongitarsus sont discutées.
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Windig, J.J. Life cycle and abundance oflongitarsus jacobaeae [Col.: Chrysomelidae], biocontrol agent ofSenecio jacobaea . Entomophaga 36, 605–618 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374443
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374443