Larval production from field-collected Carcinops pumilio (Coleoptera : Histeridae) following three starvation periods

Carcinops pumilio (Erichson) were collected from high-rise, caged-layer pou ltry facilities using two trapping methods, a blacklight pitfall trap and a mesh-bottomed trap placed on poultry manure. Starvation for 14 d significa ntly reduced larval production during the first 3-d oviposition period rega rdless of trapping method. Beetles collected with blacklight traps and subs equently starved for 14 d had higher larval production in the third through fifth oviposition periods than those fed daily, indicating that lack of nu trition was a limiting factor in C, pumilio larval production. No differenc es were observed in larval production, after the first oviposition period, between the 14-d starved and daily fed groups collected with the mesh-botto m trap. In all blacklight-captured treatments, larval production was lowest during the later oviposition period with the largest differences found amo ng the three starved treatments. Larval production in the 14-d starved trea tment increased significantly during the later oviposition periods in mesh- bottom trap studies. Within the fed treatment, larval production was consis tently greater among beetles collected with the mesh-bottom trap than among beetles collected with blacklight traps.