| Abstract: | Abstract The seasonality of the field population of Lagria hirta L. is remarkable: adults occur only from the end of June to the beginning of August, whereas larvae exist in the whole year except June. Based on the data of field observations and larval head-width measuring, the author demonstrated that L. hirta would reproduce in a very short interval in June to August; eggs hatch and develop (molt) into the 3rd, 4th or 5th (sometimes 6th) instar before winter; after larval overwintering, the beetles complete the larval development after total 8–10 times of molts and pupate in June. The larval development rate is decreased but not completely stopped during winter (the nonparametric median test, P<0. 01). This result changes the hitherto opinion of 4 or 5-instar larval development of L. hirta and will stimulate the studies on its life history. |
