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A RED COLOR MORPH OF THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE, LEPTINOTARSA DECEMLINEATA (SAY) (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Gilles Boiteau
Gilles Boiteau
Affiliation:
Agriculture Canada Research Station, PO Box 20280, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 427
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Extract

The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), has a genetic system of great diversity and dynamic nature. This results in an enormous adaptability to a range of habitat conditions. Its genetic diversity is exemplified by the existence of color mutants (Tower 1906; Boiteau 1980, 1985).

In the summer of 1986, a red-body mutant male beetle was found in a potato field on the grounds of the Research Station in Fredericton, N.B., Canada. No other red beetles could be found in spite of frequent monitoring of beetle populations. The specimen retains the normal black maculation throughout but all pale yellow to flavous areas of normal beetles have been replaced by the color red (Scarlet 19/3 of the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Charts, 1942). To the best of my knowledge, this is the first report of a red Colorado potato beetle in Canada. Previously, red potato beetles had only been reported from the semi-desertic area of Toluca, near Mexico City (Tower 1906).

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 119 , Issue 10 , October 1987 , pp. 957 - 958
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1987

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References

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