Biology and population development ofAblattaria arenaria [Coleoptera: Silphidae], a snail predator

The biology ofAblattaria arenaria (Kraatz) was studied in the laboratory by using a helicid snail,Xeropicta derbentina (Kyrnicki) as prey. Population development ofA. arenaria in the field was studied in 1985 and 1986. The eggs ofA. arenaria were laid in the soil in lots of 5–45 at various intervals, and the total number of eggs per female varied from 144 to 193 during the oviposition period of 24–88 days.A. arenaria passed through the egg, 3 larval, prepupal, and pupal stages before reaching the adult stage. The mean duration of these stages was 9.8, 3.9, 2.5, 5.9, 3.8 and 5.7 days, respectively, with a total of 31.4 days. A. arenaria overwintered as an adult and became active and laid eggs during the spring. The start of spring activity seemed to be highly influenced by relative humidity. High humidity resulted in early emergence from overwintering sites. There was 1 generation in 1985, but 2 population peaks occurred in 1986. Immature stages of the 2nd generation became adult before the beginning of aestivation. Activity of the beetles was stopped by the beginning of hot weather in June, which synchronized well with the beginning of snail aestivation.