Biological aspects and food consumption of oil palm fruit scraper,Demotispa neivai (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

In colombia,the beetle demotispa neivai (bondar) damages oil palm fruits,resulting in loss of yield and oil production. as little is known of important aspects of its biology,life cycle,biometrics and food consumption,important aspects of the biology of the species was studied. experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions in the municipality of barrancabermeja,santander,colombia. life cycle and description of developmental stages of d. neivai were determined,taking into account stage-specific survival. the duration of the life cycle of d. neivai was determined to be 269.91 ± 5.51 days,with an overall survival rate of 96.7%. biometrical measurements were taken of the insect's width,length and weight. adults are red beetles,males and females being differentiated by size. the width,length and weight of insects were proportional to their growth stage. d. neivai has a consumption rate that increased with the growth of the insect but was reduced at the adult stage (y= 0.001x6.2285,r2= 0.901). this insect's life cycle and adult longevity,and size are factors that could be considered in determining its feeding habits and pest status in oil palm.