Observations on flight and feeding activity of adultcosteiytra zealandica(white) (col.,scarabaeidae) in nelson province

Abstract

A considerable proportion of the adult Costelytra zealandica population of infested pastures was observed feeding on pasture foliage for up to 7 hr after the flight period at dusk. Females were predominant (76%) and fed preferentially on clovers. A small proportion of the population consisting of older beetles (21 % female) made flights of up to 400 m away from the infested area. Orientation was apparently toward the highest silhouette on their horizon, and the beetles landed on deciduous trees and shrubs in their path. Willow foliage was preferred to elder, peach. and birch, and pine foliage was avoided. After several hours' feeding the beetles entered the ground under the trees. None were seen rc.urning to the pasture, although attempts at flight were observed at dawn.

Biology of the striped chafer,Odontria striata(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) I. The adult, flight and ground surface activity, female reproductive maturation, and food-plant selection

“…In "phase 2" both sexes fly to trees or shrubs where both feeding and mating occur. Farrell & Wightman (1972) noted 2 distinct types of flight behaviour in C. zealandica, rather similar to those described above for O. striata. However, over the comparatively short flight season in C. zealandica (3-4 weeks), randomly directed low-altitude flights were seen soon after adult emergence whereas feeding flights were observed later in the flight season.…”

“…In flight interception traps for the same species, Farrell & Wightman (1972) found that males predominated in catches early in the season but that females predominated later in the flight season.…”

“…Males usually outnumbered females in pitfall trap catches during March, when adult eclosion was stilI under way, suggesting that they might complete pupal development earlier than females. Farrell & Wightman (1972) found a predominance of females in earlyemerging C. zealandica, but considered this to be a chance effect since collections of pupae and adults revealed a sex ratio close to unity. However, Kelsey (1951) and Kain (1975) found that male C. zealandica develop and emerge before females.…”

Use of sex attractant traps to estimate the development stage of grass grub,Costelytra zealandica(White) (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae), in the soil

“…The methods that have been used to follow beetle emergence patterns have been: regular intensive soil sampling, which has also been used to establish the developmental stage of the insect in the soil (Fenemore & Perrott 1970;Henzell & Kain 1972); emergence of beetles from traps set in the ground (Farrell 1972); and collection of beetles by hand as they emerge in the evening (Fenemore & Perrott 1970). Generally, emergence patterns parallel those of flight (Kelsey 1968), and flight activity has been measured with light traps (Fenemore & Perrott 1970); flightinterception traps (Kelsey 1968;Farrell & Wightman 1972); and rotary mechanical traps (Henzell & Kain 1972) .…”

“…Generally, emergence patterns parallel those of flight (Kelsey 1968), and flight activity has been measured with light traps (Fenemore & Perrott 1970); flightinterception traps (Kelsey 1968;Farrell & Wightman 1972); and rotary mechanical traps (Henzell & Kain 1972) .…”