Comparison of Oviposition and Longevity ofMonochamus alternatusandM. carolinensis(Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

Female adults of 2 pine sawyer species, Monochamus alternatus Hope and Monochamus carolinensis (Olivier), were reared individually as unmated females or with a male as a mated female under laboratory conditions. The numbers of oviposition sites and eggs per female were recorded for the duration of the adult life stage. Patterns of oviposition, fecundity, and adult longevity were compared. M. alternatus females lived significantly longer than M. carolinensis , while M. carolinensis females deposited a greater number of eggs per day than M. alternatus females. This interaction resulted in similar fecundities for the 2 species. Unmated females lived significantly longer than mated females but deposited significantly fewer eggs per day, resulting in a significantly higher fecundity for mated females. The distribution of eggs within oviposition sites was similar between species and mated conditions. The majority of oviposition sites contained a single egg. The age-specific oviposition rates (eggs/48 hr) were also similar between species and mated status. Regressions of egg deposition and adult age indicated that all females had a nearly constant rate of egg deposition throughout their adult lives.