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BIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF CERTAIN SPECIES OF CALIROA COSTA AND ENDELOMYIA ASHMEAD (HYMENOPTERA SYMPHYTA)
Author(s) -
MILES HERBERT W.
Publication year - 1935
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1935.tb07712.x
Subject(s) - biology , hymenoptera , ecology , zoology
Summary. Larvae of Caliroa Costa and Endelomyia Ashmead are well known as slugworms and leaf skeletonisers of many cultivated trees and shrubs. C. limacina Retz. oviposits on the under sides of leaves of plum, pear and cherry and the eggs hatch in 11–14 days. The larvae are covered with dark slime and feed on the upper surface of the leaves. The feeding stage lasts 18–21 days. The larvae moult and shed their coating of slime before entering the soil to make cocoons. The cocoons are composed mainly of soil particles, lightly cemented with saliva. In the north‐west of England some individuals emerge the same season and give rise to a second generation, and others continue in the cocoons until the following year. Reproduction is mainly dependent on parthenogenesis. C. annulipes Klug. oviposits on the upper surface of the leaves of Salix, Grategus, Prunus , etc. The incubation period is 13–15 days. The larvae, unlike those of C. limacina , are covered with transparent slime and feed on the under side of the leaves. The larval stage lasts 19–22 days and at maturity they lose their coating of slime and enter the soil to construct cocoons. C. annulipes is bivoltine in the north of England and the phenomenon of delayed development has not so far been observed. E. aethiops Fab. appears confined to Rosa sp. The flight period is May–June and the females oviposit in the edges of rose leaves, preferring Rosa canina and R. arvensis . The incubation period is 9–14 days and the larval feeding period 20–27 days. The larvae are yellowish; the thorax is enlarged but not as much as in Caliroa sp., and the prothoracic glands and coating of slime are lacking. They feed on the under surfaces of the leaves and at maturity they moult and enter the soil to make cocoons. E. aethiops is univoltine and hibernation takes place in the contracted prepupal condition in the cocoon. Endelomyia Ashm. can be separated from Caliroa Costa on antennal characters and wing venation. A key for the identification of the five recorded British species of Caliroa and Endelomyia is included.