Life History of Chauliognathus lugubris (F.) (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) in Tasmanian Forests

Abstract

Aspects of the life history of Chauliognathus lugubris, a predator of eggs and early stage larvae of the Eucalyptus leafbeetle, Chrysophtharta bimaculata, were studied in southern Tasmania. In the laboratory (ambient temperature 15-25 "C and artificial diet), the egg to adult period was about 10 months with seven larval stages. Advanced larvae (5th-7th instar) were collected in the field from soil litter during mid-winter. Adults were most common in the spring and early summer, with regular field collections suggesting adult longevity of 2-3 months. Based on the pattern of ovarian development of field-caught adults, in combination with the long larval development times, it appeared that C. lugubris has only one generation a year.

Identification and Synthesis of the Male-Produced Sex Pheromone of the Soldier BeetleChauliognathus fallax(Coleoptera: Cantharidae)

“…After 10 min, the temperature was increased to room temperature, and DCM (30 mL) was added. The resulting mixture was washed with saturated solutions of NH 4 Cl and brine and dried with Na 2 SO 4 . The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure, and the residue was …”

“…The reaction was cooled again to −78 °C, and undecanal (4) (0.700 g, 4.11 mmol) in THF (5 mL) was added and stirred for 20 min at the same temperature. The mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for additional 12 h. The reaction was quenched with saturated NH 4 Cl solution. The organic layer was separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with hexane.…”

“…The organic layer was separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with hexane. The organic layer was washed with water and brine, dried over anhydrous Na 2 SO 4 and concentrated in vacuum. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (hexane) yielding a mixture of (Z)-tricos-11-ene (1) and (E)-tricos-11-ene (2) (1.137 g, 3.53 mmol, 86%).…”

“…They are important egg and larval predators of chrysomelid beetles defoliating eucalyptus, but also feed on pollen, nectar and new leaves. 3,4 Larvae occur on the ground and leaf litter and are predators and occasionally phytophagous. 5 The specie Chauliognathus fallax frequently occurs in Southern Brazil, along with other species of the genus.…”

Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenebrionis shows no toxicity to the predator Chauliognathus lugubris (F.) (Coleoptera: Cantharidae)

“…By January, most female C. lugubris have laid their egg complement and are nearing the end of their life span (Shohet & Clarke 1997). The timing of this will vary between years, but spraying will not usually be necessary before the end of December, when most C. lugubris populations are declining (R. Bashford, pers.…”