Reproductive biology and strategies of nine meloid beetles from Central Europe (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

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The reproductive biology of meloid species from Central Europe is investigated by means of laboratory breeding experiments. They show that the total reproductive potential of meloids, with up to 40,000 eggs, largely exceeds prior data. Furthermore, the number of laid eggs strongly relates to the way by which the triungulins find their host. Clutch size correlates significantly with the size of the beetle, while egg size is independent of this. Both clutch size and egg size decrease with each oviposition. For some species, reproductive data are used to demonstrate how they have adapted to their habitat and to point out existing trade-offs. Based on the obtained results and on an evaluation of the relevant literature, three types of reproductive strategy can be distinguished within the meloids: (1) very high reproductive rates of open field species with phoretic larvae; (2) average reproductive rates of forest populations of species with phoretic larvae and of species the larvae of which search the nests of their hosts actively; and (3) small to average reproductive rates of those species depositing their clutches in the immediate proximity of their hosts' nests.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Natural History
Volume39
Issue number48
Pages (from-to)4101-4125
Number of pages25
ISSN0022-2933
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31.03.2006

    Research areas

  • Biology
  • Coleoptera, Host finding, Life history, Meloidae, Reproductive strategies, Trade-off, Triungulins

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