Longevity and fecundity of <i>Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis</i>

Abstract

Both the cultivated and the wild spinach (Amaranthus species) have been found to be host to an important beetle pes Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis. The longevity of the beetles was studied under a variety of conditions. It was observed that the e span of the beetles varied widely with the beetles capable of leaving up to 70 days (about 42 days 0n the average). The beetles generally lived longerunder the ambient condition than inside room condition. Studies on the survivorship of the immature stages of the beetles revealed that the larva has the highest mortality rate amongst stages with the egg being the highest surviving stage. Studies on the fecundiy of the female adult beetles showed that about 80% of ther life span is utilised in egg laying. On the average, about 2½ eggs are laid per day (.e. about 5 eggs laid within 2 days).

Keywords: Longevity, Fecundity, Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis, Coleoptera, Cruculiondae, Amaranthus species