. Cooperative economic insect report. Beneficial insects; Insect pests. - 985 INSECTS NOT KNOWN TO OCCUR IN THE UNITED STATES LUCERNE BEETLE (Phytodecta fornicatus Brliggem.) Economic Importance: This chrysomelid is an important pest of alfalfa in parts of middle Europe. Considerable damage has been recorded in Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia. Larvae have caused complete loss of the crop on occasion in this area of Europe. Adults feed on the leaves of alfalfa and black medic, and larvae on leaves, petioles and young stems. Leaf-feeding symptoms differ somewhat in that the larvae cause a "
. Cooperative economic insect report. Beneficial insects; Insect pests. - 985 INSECTS NOT KNOWN TO OCCUR IN THE UNITED STATES LUCERNE BEETLE (Phytodecta fornicatus Brliggem.) Economic Importance: This chrysomelid is an important pest of alfalfa in parts of middle Europe. Considerable damage has been recorded in Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia. Larvae have caused complete loss of the crop on occasion in this area of Europe. Adults feed on the leaves of alfalfa and black medic, and larvae on leaves, petioles and young stems. Leaf-feeding symptoms differ somewhat in that the larvae cause a "ragging" appearance, whereas the adults more deeply scallop the leaves. Both stages perforate the leaves somewhat, but adults more so. Petioles and young stems may be cut entirely through by the larvae. Hosts: Alfalfa and black medic. Distribution: Occurs throughout most of middle Europe and parts of the Near East (Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and the ). The species has also been recorded in the literature from England and North General Distribution of Phytodecta fornicatus Brilggem. Life History and Habits: The biology as recorded in Bulgaria was as follows: Adults overwintered in the soil. Emergence began when the soil temperature rose to ° F. and lasted 15 to 20 days. After maturation feeding for 2-5 days, adults mated and laid eggs in batches of 2-22 on lower surface of the leaves. Oviposition lasted 38-41 days. In the laboratory, females laid about 165 eggs during a period of 1 to 12 days - 76 percent on the first day. Average adult longevity was 15-16 days for males and 41 days for females. Eggs hatched in about 5 days at ° F. and 9 days at ° F. Larval development required 15-23 days, depending on the temperature, and pupation was completed within 3 weeks, but most of the adults remained in the soil and penetrated deeper to hibernate. Some, howe
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