Reproductive Biology of the Bronze Birch Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) on Selected Trees2

Abstract

Reproductive biology of the bronze birch borer, Agrilus anxius Gory, was examined by measuring the influence of host on maturation feeding period, fecundity, incubation period, egg viability, and longevity. Initially, females fed Betula pendula Roth leaves had the highest fecundity and egg hatchability. However, when large numbers of beetles were caged on an individual B. pendula in 1982, females did not oviposit. Fecundity and egg hatch varied on Populus deltoides Bartr. ex March between years but was consistently high, and the percentage of females ovipositing when fed this host was usually highest. Some beetles fed Quercus palustris Muenchh. or Salix elaeagnos Scop, produced eggs; no reproduction occurred on Acer saccharinum L. Host species and environmental variables influenced the beetle's reproductive biology, but some of the observed differences may be explained by reduced foliage quality resulting from inducible plant defense or spacing pheromones produced by beetles at high densities.