Timing of Dispersal and Ovarian Development in Goldenrod Leaf Beetles, Trirhabda virgata and T. borealis

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

Volume

75

Publication Date

1-1-1982

First Page

78

Last Page

83

Abstract

The two goldenrod leaf beetles, Trirhabda virgata LeConte and T. borealis Blake (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), flew only during a brief, postteneral period, when each population was at peak density. Cessation of flight coincided with the period of rapid maturation of oöcytes. The sex ratio of flying individuals was strongly skewed toward females, although males and females were equally abundant in each population at large. Most beetles were captured just above the goldenrod vegetation (at 1 m above ground); the number of captures decreased with increasing height above ground. Females tended to fly higher than males. The role of dispersal by flight in Trirhabda habitat colonization and population dynamics is discussed.

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