The Studies On Artificial Rearing And Breeding Ecology Of Meloids

This paper pilotly studied on ecological environment , artificial rearing method, life history and breeding ecology of three species of meloids distributed in FuZhou---Epicauta ruficeps Illiger,Epicauta mannerheimi,Mylabris phalerata. The mating behaviors were observed, the reproductive system of both female and male of three meloids were dissected and histological studies were made, the internal structure and microstructure of reproductive system of three meloids were compared, and distributed situation of canthardin in each reproductive organ was examined. This paper also discussed the secretion sequences from male accessory glands and vasa deferentia passing into female spermatophoral receptacle in spermatophore formation. Moreover, discussed the transfering progress of cantharidin between the partners during copulation.The results showed that: 1.the adults of three meloids mostly appear at foothill, roadside, versant where grasshoppers existed or where low plants such as Achyranthes aspera L., Alternanthera philoxeroides, Pueraria lobata, Arachis hypogaea , Rhus(Tourn.)L.emend. Moench , Pteridium aquilinum , Lygodium japonicum , Clerodendrum cyrtophyllum grew. 2.The artificial food adapted to the surviving and breeding of the adults. 3.The average life-span of the female adults were all longer than those of the males. The females usually mated twice , the males could mate twice or three times. The females usually oviposited twice. Each stadium of Mylabris phalerata in average was:egg-43day;1st instar-15day;2nd instar-16day; 3rd instar-22day; 4th instar-151 day (through winter);5th instar-20 day; pupa-20day. Respectively, eyespot, mandibles and limbs appeared at about 15th, 17th, 19th day respectively after the egg was laid. 4.The mating behavior of the three meloids reflected the degree in similarity and difference between species and between genera.5. In addition to the ovaries ,lateral and common oviducts, the female reproductive system of the three meloids including a voluminous spermatophoral receptacle, an accessory gland and a spermatheca. The reproductive system of the male have three pairs of accessory glands plus the testes ,vasa deferentia and an ejaculatory duct. The morphological differences and similarities of reproductive glands in the three beetles could be used in taxonomy. 6.Cantharidin was mostly stored in the first pairs of male accessory gland , it passed into female spermatopheral receptacle through newly formed spermatophore during conpulation, then absorbed by eggs, when laid in the earth cantharidin may protect eggs from hurting by natural enemies. It concords with the results of McCormick and Yang Zhao Feng in chemical way. ...