Seasonal Occurrence of Calleida viridipennis (Say) and Plochionus timidus Haldeman (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Predators of the Fruittree Leafroller, Archips argyrospila (Walker), in Louisiana

Abstract

Calleida viridipennis (Say) and Plochionus timidus Haldeman overwinter as adults under the bark of baldcypress, Taxodium distichum (L.) Richard, (diam. at breast height (DBH) > 30 cm) and black willow, Salix nigra Marsh, (DBH > 15 cm) at a height more than 40 cm above the water level in forested wetlands. Both carabid species were found to be spring breeders, with adults surviving approximately one year. Adults of both species emerged from overwintering in late February or early March when the fruittree leafroller, Archips argyrospila (Walker), caterpillars were active on baldcypress. Carabid eggs were distributed among foliage and host webs from mid- or late-March to late-September with larvae occurring from late-March to early or mid-October. Both carabid species were found to be associated with the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury), after the univoltine fruittree leafroller larvae completed their development.