Daily activity time budgets of leaf-beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) at different stages of their generation cycle

Native (natural) motor responses in the active life phases (adult and larvae) of 4 species of leaf-beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) of a one-year generation were studied in natural and laboratory conditions in the Samara region during 19742010. Depending on the dominant biological program at each stage of ontogenesis, type of motor activity (specific movements) and time budgets for the implementation of these movements, the entire generation (reproductive) cycle was divided into 4 stages the functional unit of behavioral reactions. These powers include precopulatory period (puberty adult), stage of copulation (mating adults), the stage of ovulation (the maturation and oviposition) and the stage of embryogenesis (hatching and larvae development). The dynamics of the duration of the light period of the day (when the beetles are active) is considered throughout the observation period. The duration of useful time of the light period of the day (for this latitude) is calculated, i.e. the astronomical day length minus the length of morning and evening twilight (when it is relatively cold, the dew falls, and the insects are inactive), exactly the period when the beetles are most mobile. Real time budgets of motor activity in the period of daylight hours at different stages of the lasting cycle are estimated. The main types of motor responses of leaf beetles are recorded and examined. It is established that all in all there are 13 such reactions, of them 5 are common for all stages, 8 are specific.