1985] 
Ashe — Meronera venus tula 
187 
Total egg production over life of the colony was 104. From the 
time of first egg laying until cessation of oviposition was 25 days 
with 1 egg laid 9 days later. Most eggs (91%) were produced during a 
period of 17 days between May 21 and June 6. From time of first 
oviposition until egg production decreased to zero (June 6), an 
average of 4.3 eggs were laid per day. Based on an average of 8.5 
females alive during this period, average egg production per female 
per day is 0.51. There were, however, 4 days in which more eggs 
were deposited over a 24 hour period than there were females alive 
during that period. This occurred on May 24 (8 females: 9 eggs), 
May 25 (8 females: 9 eggs), May 27 (8 females: 10 eggs) and June 6 
(7 females: 8 eggs). On these dates it is necessary that at least one 
female had laid 2 eggs during a 24 hour period. The average total 
number of eggs per female over the entire oviposition period is 12.1 
(based on an average of 8.5 females alive during this period). 
Fertility of eggs laid by M. venus tula was very high. Only 2 eggs 
failed to hatch out of 52 observed closely, a fertility and/or hatching 
success of 96%. Less detailed observations of other eggs suggests 
similar hatching success. It is interesting that the last egg laid was 
also fertile and hatched. 
Adults survived an average of 43.5 days from the time of collec- 
tion (May 26), with a maximum survival of 61 days. This then 
represents minimum life expectancy of adults under laboratory 
conditions. It is not known whether adult longevity under these 
conditions reflects survival in the field. Nor is it possible to deter- 
mine how long adults had been active before they were collected. 
Possible factors that could cause survival of laboratory maintained 
colonies not to reflect natural longevity include increased survival 
due to more stable laboratory conditions or decreased survival due 
to build up of pathogens or inadequate and/or stressful conditions 
in artificial colonies. 
Development and Pupation 
Available developmental rates for eggs, all instars of larvae, and 
pupae are summarized in Table 1 . 
Eggs are white, ovoid and translucent and average 0.45 X 0.35 
mm (N = 10). They were laid singly on the substrate with no apparent 
tendency to form clusters. Under conditions in the laboratory aver- 
