Development, Longevity and Fecundity of the False Wireworms Pterohelaeus Darlingensis and P. Alternatus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Iii. Interspecific Hybridization.

Abstract

In attempts to hybridise the polyphagous pests in Australia Pterohelaeus darlingensis Carter (D) and P. alternatus Pasc. (A), all eggs produced from matings of A females with D males were infertile. Some eggs in the D X A crosses hatched, producing adults similar to P. alternatus. These were fertile when backcrossed to each parent species and in F1 X F1 crosses. All the resultant F1 X A, A X F1 and F2 adults resembled P. alternatus, but like the F1 had different larval and pupal periods and, in A X F1, different larval and pupal survival from P. alternatus. In the D X F1 and F1 X D crosses, 68 and 74%, respectively, of the resultant adults appeared to be P. alternatus; the remainder were similar to P. darlingensis. There were differences in the development periods and survival rates from those of the parents.