Phenology ofCoccinella septempunctata (Col.: Coccinellidae) in central Greece

Abstract

Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), field collected from central Greece and reared in cages during 1990–1991 and in vials during 1994–1995 outdoors at Kifissia, Athens, developed 4 complete and a 5th partial generations per year. In both cases, only adults of the 1st generation reproduced within the year they emerged; 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation adults reproduced partly in the year they emerged and partly in the following year; 5th generation adults did not reproduce at all in 1990, and eggs/larvae produced by 4th generation females in 1994 died before developing into adults. Adults of the 1 st and 5th generations died before winter; those of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations overwintered successfully. The greatest numbers of eggs were laid by females of the 1st and 2nd generations. Visual counts made in the open field at Kopais plain in central Greece (1990–1992) and on the summit of the adjacent Mount Kitheron (1990–1994) indicate that allC. septempunctata instars were abundant in the plain between April and June, becoming scarce from July until the end of the warm period of the year following spring. NoC. septempunctata individuals were found in the plain in winter. On the summit of the mountain,C. septempunctata adults were present all year round, singly and in aggregations, except for the month of May. The most numerous arrivals of adults were noticed on the mountain in June. Emigrations of adults from there were noticed from March until the end of April.