LIFE HISTORY STUDIES OF THE TOBACCO FLEA BEETLE, EPITRIX HIRTIPENNIS (MELSHEIMER) (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE)

The life history of the tobacco flea beetle, Epitrix hirtipennis (Melsheimer) (= Epitrix parvula Fab.) was studied under the controlled conditions of 27 ± 2.8°C, 80 ± 6% and a 14L:10D photophase. Eggs matured in ca. 4 days, the larval stage, including 3 instars, developed in 13 days, prepupal development took 3 days and the pupal stage lasted approximately 5 days. There was a 24 day interval between oviposition and adult emergence. Females laid 3.1 eggs/day with a 13 day period between adult emergence and first oviposition. The mean number of total eggs/female was 138.6 ± 14.7. Female oviposition continued until a few days before death and adult longevity was approximately 70 days. A visual means of distinguishing between male and female beetles was also developed.