Host plants and life-forms of the larvae of Mordellistena brunneispinosa Ermisch, 1963, M. multicicatrix Kangas, 1986 and M. kraatzi Emery, 1876 (Coleoptera: Mordellidae)

Abstract

The larvae of Mordellistena brunneispinosa Ermisch, 1963 found on the territory of Belarus in the stems of six plant species: Artemisia vulgaris L., A. absinthium L., A. campestris L., Solidago virgaurea L., Achillea millefolium L. and Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. The larvae of Mordellistena multicicatrix Kangas, 1986 revealed in the stems of three plant species: Phalacroloma septentrionale (Fern. et Wieg.) Tzvel., Melilotus albus Medik. and Omalotheca sylvatica (L.) Sch. Bip. et F. Schultz. The larvae of Mordellistena kraatzi Emery, 1876 found in the stems of three plant species: Centaurea jacea L., C. pseudomaculosa Dobrocz. and Arctium lappa L. It is established that the development of the larvae is carried out by feeding on parenchyma cells of pith. The larvae of these species of tumbling flower beetles do not descend into underground organs of host plants. Three life-forms of tumbling flower beetle larvae distinguished on the basis of their locomotion using lateral and dorsal protuberances are indicated. The following names are proposed for these life-forms: stem-boring larvae leaning on lateral protuberances; stem-boring larvae leaning on dorsal protuberances; stem-boring larvae leaning both on dorsal and lateral protuberances. The larvae of M. brunneispinosa belong to the first life-form, the larvae of M. multicicatrix — to the second one, the larvae of M. kraatzi — to the third one. The need to study the microstationary ecological dispersion of tumbling flower beetles at the larval stage is indicated. Photographs of the larvae of M. brunneispinosa, M. multicicatrix and M. kraatzi in the stems of some host plants taken in the field are given.