Occurrence, bionomics and harmfulness of Crepidodera aurata (Marsh.) (Coleoptera, Alticidae)

Abstract

Flea-beetle Crepidodera aurata (Marsh.) is a forestry-important species of the family Alticidae. Its occurrence, bionomics and harmfulness were studied at Forest District Bílovice nad Svitavou (Training Forest Enterprise Masaryk Forest Křtiny near Brno) in the period 2007 to 2010. Salix caprea L. was the main host and Populus tremula L. an additional host. Last year’s beetles occurred on woody species from the beginning of May to mid-October (most abundantly in June). In the laboratory, they lived 2 to 2.5 months and damaged on average 19.1 cm2 leaves S. caprea. Females laid on average 246.5 eggs, namely in 15.4 clutches at 16 eggs. Beetles of the new generation mostly overwintered (70%) in pupal chambers. About 30% this year’s beetles left pupal chambers. These occurred on trees from the second decade of July to the beginning of November (most abundantly in September). The smaller part of them ran over from S. caprea to newly grown young P. tremula in September and October. Males damaged on average 6.1 (females 7.0) cm2 leaves of P. tremula during 3 to 4-week feeding. Beetles do not mate before hibernation and eggs develop in ovaries of females only after wintering. The development is obligatorily univoltine. With respect to the low consumption of food it is not usually necessary to control the pest.