Reproductive Status of Flea Beetles in North Dakota and South Dakota

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1999

Abstract

Each year, Aphthona nigriscutis Foudras (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) ud ults are collected from established field sites in the upper Great Plains and distributed to uncolonized areas for biological suppression of leafy spurge (Euphorbia'. I'II/a L). In 1995, sex ratio, female insemination rate, and oocyte development in a Pnllock, South Dakota population were evaluated to determine the optimum period for collection of large numbers of reproductively viable individuals. The study was L" pHnded in 1996 to include two North Dakota sites; one site near Valley City and the IIlhl.! r in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Samples were taken weekly from late June (l'lliergence) until early August when adults could no longer be collected with sweep IIl't sampling. Sex ratios were highly skewed in favor of females both years. Samples Inkl'n on or before 6 July contained less than 44% inseminated females

Publication Title

Prairie Nauturalist

Volume

31

Issue

3

First Page

165

Last Page

172

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