Ovarian development in Arhopalus ferus (Coleoptera Cerambycidae)

Burnt pine longhorn (BPL) Arhopalus ferus Burnt pine longhorn (BPL) Arhopalus ferus (Mulsant) (Coleoptera Cerambycidae) is an introduced species sometimes found in association with export logs and sawn timber In this study oocyte development was assessed at a constant 15 20 and 25C and behaviour was observed with the aim of determining optimal mating age for laboratoryreared insects At eclosion females were kept in 60 ml cups at 15 20 and 25C with a strip of cardboard as a resting site and frozen at 4 3 and 2day intervals respectively for dissection At 15 20 and 25C the first oocytes reached maximum length and were chorionated at ca 25 12 and 10 days respectively Cardboard chewing was observed from ca 20 10 and 8 days at 15 20 and 25C respectively Chewing behaviour may mimic the wild adult clearing its exit hole before leaving the decaying tree and corresponds with the approximate period that earliest oocytes have reached maximum size Based on these results the optimum time for pairing laboratoryreared adults kept at 20C is later than 10 days after eclosion Subsequently adults reared at 20C and paired when they were 1415 days old mated and began egglaying immediately