Biological aspects of Cyclocephala tucumana Brethes, 1904 and Cyclocephala melanocephala (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abstract

The studies were conducted on the biological aspects of Cyclocephala tucumana Brethes, 1904 and C. melanocephala (Fabricius, 1775) in Aquidauana, MS, Brazil. From January to December 2009 a light trap was installed to make collections of adults of C. tucumana and from January 2010 to February 2011 for collections of adults of C. melanocephala, at the experimental farm of the Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul. Adults were maintained in plastic containers with soil and complete plants of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf cv. Basilisk to oviposition and start biological studies. Adults of C. tucumana were collected from September to November in the field; the embryonic period lasted on average 14.7 days, and the first, second and third larval instars lasted 47.7, 66.1 and 78.6 days, respectively. Pre-pupa and pupa phases lasted 98.2 and 15.1 days, respectively, and longevity of the adults was 13.3 days. From the egg to adult stage of C. tucumana was a period of average 211.2 days. Adults of C. melanocephala were collected from September to October 2010 and February 2011. The embryonic period lasted 17.8 days, and larvae in the first, second and third instars lasted 22.3, 21.0 and 27.0 days, respectively. The pre-pupa stage lasted 11.3 days and pupa phase lasted 13.3 days. The longevity of adults was 26 days, and the cycle from egg to adult lasted 113 days.

White grub (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) mortality induced by Ophiocordyceps melolonthae

“…The period of larval activity of two species studied was similar to other Scarabaeidae collected in Brazil, as observed by RODRIGUES et al (2010) andNOGUEIRA et al (2013). Larval phase of Cyclocephala tucumana Brethes, 1904 and Cyclocephala melanocephala Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) last 191.9 days and 70.7 days respectively (NOGUEIRA et al (2013) and the larval phase of Cyclocephala verticalis Burmeister, 1847 (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) last 195.7 days (RODRIGUES et al, 2010). White grubs (C. modesta and D. gagates) have a rhizophagous action that attacks soybean roots and inoculates Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtendahl emend.…”

Egg development and viability in three species of Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae)

“…The construction of individualized soil chambers for the laid eggs is commonly recorded among studies with different groups of Scarabaeoidea, including Cyclocephala spp. (Morelli, 1991; McMonigle, 2006; Lai and Hsin-Ping, 2008; Rodrigues et al ., 2010; Nogueira et al ., 2013; Souza et al ., 2013, 2015, Albuquerque et al ., 2014). These chambers protect the egg from desiccation and are likely built by the gravid females (Nogueira et al ., 2013).…”

“…to agriculture and natural systems, the knowledge about the biological parameters of these insects is surprisingly limited. Published data on the life cycle of Cyclocephala is restricted to less than 3% of the currently described species (Gavotto, 1964; Potter, 1983; Cherry, 1985; Mondino et al ., 1997; Morón, 1997, 2004; Santos and Ávila, 2007; Rodrigues et al ., 2010; Stechauner-Rohringer and Pardo-Locarno, 2010; Coutinho et al ., 2011; Nogueira et al ., 2013; Sisne Luis et al ., 2013; Albuquerque et al ., 2014; Souza et al ., 2014, 2015; Saldanha et al ., 2020). Some of these authors provide a few insights into egg development in species of Cyclocephala , which include the observation of significant weight gain from oviposition until hatching (Gavotto, 1964; Cherry, 1985; Souza et al ., 2014).…”

Beetle pollination and flowering rhythm of Annona coriacea Mart. (Annonaceae) in Brazilian cerrado: Behavioral features of its principal pollinators

“…The period of occurrence of each species of flower visitors was approximately 30 to 60 days, which period coincides with longevity described for C . melanocephala adults under laboratory conditions [ 55 ].…”