Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 604 – Issue No. 604
Oulema melanopus beetles have a yearly life cycle, starting with adults feeding before winter and laying eggs on the undersides of leaves in spring. Larvae hatch in 7-15 days and are the most damaging to crops, eating the leaves. Pupation occurs in soil, with adults emerging in 20-25 days to start the cycle again. The beetles are native to Europe and Asia but have spread to North America, favoring cereal crops like oats, barley, and wheat. They release volatile organic compounds when feeding, which repel females but not males.