Mating Behaviour and Egg Laying Pattern of the Areca Nut White Grub, Leucopholis lepidophora (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

The mating behaviour and egg laying pattern of the areca nut white grub, Leucopholis lepidophora, were studied in Shivamogga district’s Hosanagara taluk. Females active between 18:40 19:20 hrs, when light intensity dropped to 83.62 lux. most males approached virgin female at 18:50 hrs (15.94 lux) session ended (0.26 lux). typical L. lepidophora was investigated. Female beetles began abdominal expansion contraction, which could indicate that semiochemical secretion has begun. Males then approached, calling out females. Male raised all its legs, turned body ventrally, became suspended by genitalia after inserting into abdomen. Copulation lasted an average 74.60±6.61 minutes. adult female’s pre-oviposition period, oviposition postoviposition period 9.56± 2.04 days, 3.72± 2.35 5.24± 4.67 respectively. longevity ranged from 11 28 with 18.52± 4.91 days. incubation varying fecundity clutch intervals ranging 24-48 hours. Experiment on revealed females waited days before began, they lay numbers eggs interval approximately