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BIOLOGY AND LIFE HISTORY OF EPURAEA OBLIQUUS HATCH (COLEOPTERA: NITIDULIDAE) ON WESTERN GALL RUST

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Cameron R. Currie
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
John R. Spence
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
W. Jan A. Volney
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9

Abstract

The life cycle, phenology, and abundance of Epuraea obliquus Hatch was studied near Hinton, Alberta. Most of the life cycle occurs on galls of Endocronartium harknessii (J.P. Moore) Y. Hiratsuka (western gall rust) infecting lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var latifolia Engelm.). Both adults and larvae feed on the spores of the fungus. Individuals of this beetle were found on most galls sampled. Adults overwinter in the soil. They emerge in the spring to seek out and colonize galls. Eggs are laid on the surface of galls, mainly under the periderm, and larvae feed on the fungus, developing through three larval instars. Larvae in the last instar drop from galls to pupate in the soil. Adults leave the soil in late summer and return to feed on inactive galls before overwintering in the soil. The phenology of E. obliquus is closely synchronized with the timing of rust sporulation and the impact of beetle feeding may be an important natural control of western gall rust.

Résumé

Le cycle biologique, la phénologie et l’abondance d’Epuraea obliquus Hatch ont été étudiés près de Hinton en Alberta. Les insectes font la plus grande partie de leur cycle sur des galles formées par la rouille-tumeur, Endocronartium harknessii (J.P. Moore) Y. Hiratsuka, sur des Pins vrillés (Pinus conforta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.). Les adultes aussi bien que les larves se nourrissent des spores du champignon. Des nitidules ont été trouvés sur la plupart des galles échantillonnées. Les adultes passent l’hiver dans le sol et en émergent au printemps pour chercher et coloniser les galles. Les oeufs sont pondus à la surface des galles, ordinairement sous le périderme, et les larves se nourrissent du champignon jusqu’à la fin de leur troisième stade. Les larves de dernier stade se laissent tomber des galles et font leur nymphose dans le sol. Les adultes quittent le sol à la fin de l’été et reviennent se nourrir sur les galles inactives avant de retourner au sol pour l’hiver. La phénologie d’E. obliquus est fortement reliée à celle de la sporulation de la rouille et l’impact de l’alimentation du nitidule peut s’avérer un important agent de contrôle naturel de ce champignon.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1996

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