DISTRIBUTION, HABITS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF CTENICERA DESTRUCTOR (BROWN) IN WESTERN CANADA, WITH NOTES ON THE RELATED SPECIES C. AERIPENNIS (KBY.) (COLEOPTERA:ELATERIDAE)

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Abstract
In Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, Ctenicera destructor (Brown) occurs in the brown and black soils of the Grassland Formation, and C. aeripennis (Kby.) occurs in the grey soils of the Forest Formation.The incubation period of the eggs of C. destructor varied inversely with temperature. It averaged 20 days at 68° F and 11.5 days at 86° F. The duration of the larval stage varied from about 1 to more than 2 years at 68° F. The male larvae completed their development in 9 or 10 stadia, and the female larvae in 10 or 11 stadia. The female larvae usually fed more, but completed their development sooner than did the male, and both sexes fed most during the ninth stadium. The pupal period varied from 2–3 weeks at 68° F. In the field, male beetles emerged 1 or more days before the females. The ratio of males: females was about 1.5. Each female laid an average of about 200 eggs. The adults were not observed to fly.