Research on the Biological Properties of Scatella Tenuicosta Bennison in Seedling Production

Abstract

This paper systematically described the biological properties of Scatella tenuicosta for the first time. The experiment result indicated that when temperature was set 20 °C from 7 am to 19 pm and 16 °C from 19 pm to 7 am, rhythmically across light day and dark night with 90% relative humidity, the development process of Scatella tenuicosta was as follows, egg period 2.8±0.7 d, larvae period 15.7±1.9 d, pupa period 4.5±1.5 d. The lifetime of adult male generally lasted 4 d or 5 d, the adult female 14-17 d, the longest even up to 22 days, including 14 day-long oviposition period. During the growth period of watermelon grafted seedlings (December to next March), 1 or 2 generations of Scatella tenuicosta would harm the seedlings, and 5 or 6 generations throughout the whole year. Besides, high temperature and drying environment would be conducive to the occurrence and threatening of the Scatella tenuicosta.