Reproductive development of the Tasmanian eucalypt-defoliating beetles Chrysophtharta Agricola (Chapuis) and C. Bimaculata (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Paropsini)

The reproductive development of the eucalypt-defoliating beetles <i>Chrysophtharta agricola</i> (Chapuis) and <i>C. bimaculata</i> (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was examined by dissecting male and female teneral, overwintering, and reproductive adults. Both species had morphologically similar reproductive systems, except that <i>C. agricola</i> females had more, but significantly smaller, ovarioles and <i>C. agricola</i> males had more testis follicles and significantly larger testes than <i>C. bimaculata.</i> In both species, females had ciliated lateral and common oviducts and no accessory glands. The male aedeagus of both species underwent approximately 180° longitudinal rotation during adult maturation. Both species had consistent integument and haemolymph colour changes from overwintering to reproductive maturity. Twenty percent of female <i>C. agricola,</i> but no <i>C. bimaculata,</i> had mated prior to overwintering. The rate of post-overwintering reproductive development of female and male <i>C. bimaculata</i> was examined at six temperatures.