CHARACTERISTICS OF OVIPOSITION BEHAVIOR OF THE POLLEN BEETLE, MELIGETHES-AENEUS ON 4 DIFFERENT HOST PLANTS

Oviposition behaviour of Meligethes aeneus F. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae )is characterised and quantified on four different plant species. Six behavioural components are identified: W - walking, WA - walking with abdomen on surface, R - resting, B - biting, AOH - placing abdomen ove r the bite hole and OVI - oviposition. Comparison of host acceptance b ehaviours on Brassica napus L., Brassica juncea (L.) Czern, Brassica n igra (L.) Koch and Sinapis alba L. showed that S. alba was accepted as a host only after a long exposure to the plant. Behaviour on the Bras sica species was similar, however on B. nigra beetles spent a high pro portion of time actually ovipositing. We conclude that important cues for oviposition are located both on the bud surface and inside the bud .