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Egg Production
Eggs are normally deposited in the field as masses or clusters sandwiched between two leaves. Eggs are laid on sugarcane and other grasses between the split tips of an individual leaf. The sandwich is cemented together by a gelatinous adhesive secreted by the female at the time of oviposition. Most (80%) eggs eggs were deposited between the hours of 6 PM and 6 AM during August in Florida (Schroeder, 1981). Paper strips can also be used as an oviposition substrate and are preferred to leaves (Wolcott, 1933), especially waxed or freezer paper. The number of eggs per cluster laid on oiled paper in the laboratory was reported by Wolcott (1936) from 9 individuals as ranging from 30 to 264 with an average of 52 eggs per day over 97 days or 5070 eggs per female. Beavers (1982) reported (mean ± standard error) 6517 ± 931 over 125 days (longevity minus preoviposition period) or 52 eggs/day. He observed an average 69 ± 8 eggs per egg mass and a hatch rate of 89% at 25°C and 80% RH. Most (90%) eggs hatched between 7 and 8 days under these conditions. |
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