Biological Observations on Agapanthia osmanlis Reiche & Saulcy (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Associated with Cephalaria procera Fisch & Lall. (Dipsacaceae) in Northeastern Turkey

The biology of Agapanthia osmanlis Reiche & Saulcy (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), associated with Cephalaria procera Fisch & Lall. (Dipsacaceae) was studied in Kop Mountain (Erzurum and Bayburt provinces) during 2001-2002. The life cycle lasts one year. The developmental stages of the insect are described briefly. It hibernates as mature larva stage and larvae begin to pupate the second week of May. Duration of the pupal stage is about 13-16 days. Adults appear on the leaves of the host at the end of May. Females oviposit into stems, and most eggs hatch in 8-12 days. The early instars start to feed in the stem intensively after third week of June. Starting mid September, they hibernate in the stem base of the plant. Cephalaria procera, named as "Gevrek" in Turkish, is a perennial weed with very deep roots and thus presents a problem in cultivating land for farming. Growth of the plant was considerably slowed by the beetles feeding. The infestation levels were determined as 91% and 86%, in 2001 and 2002, respectively. This cerambicid could potentially be used as a biological control agent.