Abstract

Sitona crinitus (Herbst.) is one of the important pests of Leguminosae. In this study, the preovipozition and ovipozition period, rate of egg hatching and longevity of S.crinitus were examined under two different condititions. Two adult population groups were used in the experiments: the first was overwintered in the field and brought into the Greenhouse-1 and Greenhouse-2 conditions and the second having been kept under both greenhouse conditions since their early adult stage. The preovipozition and ovipozition periods of S.crinitus were longer in the Greenhouse-1 conditions (at a temperature of 20.40±0.73°C, %56.33±1.99 relative humidity and natural daylight) than at Greenhouse-2 (variable temperature and humidiy) conditions. It was found that the fecundity and longevity of S.crinitus females were increased which fed on Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd. and V.sativa L., but were decreased which fed on Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. The longest average adult longevitiy was found in the Greenhouse-1 groups which had spent the winter under natural conditions.