RECOGNITION OF CONSPECIFIC EGGS BY FEMALE COLORADO POTATO BEETLES (COLEOPTERA, CHRYSOMELIDAE)

In its natural environment, the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinatarsa d ecemlineata (Say), colonizes plants that are distributed in patches. I n such conditions, females must select oviposition sites that will pro vide sufficient resources for the survival of their offspring. The pre sence of conspecific eggs on the plant reduces the amount of resources available, so the density of conspecific eggs must be evaluated. In t he laboratory, most females laid their eggs on the terminal leaflet of the highest of 3 leaves available to them. Feeding damage did not see m to modify the process of oviposition, and the presence of eggs did n ot change feeding patterns. In choice tests, egg clutches, hexane-wash ed eggs, yellow paper, and green paper reduced deposition of eggs on t he treated leaflet, whereas hexane, white paper, and egg extract did n ot. Conspecific egg perception using visual cues, and possibly other s timuli, was demonstrated.