LIFE, SEASONAL CYCLES, AND POPULATION FLUCTUATION OF Hippodamia variegata (GOEZE) (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE), IN THE CENTRAL PLAIN OF LA ARAUCANIA REGION, CHILE

This study was performed on an alfalfa crop located on the central plain of La Araucan a Region, Chile and in the Laboratorio de Entomologia Aplicada de la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales at the Universidad de La Frontera. Certain aspects of the biology of Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were determined, more specifically in relation to its life cycle, seasonality, and population fluctuation. It was established that this coccinellid requires 190.32 +/- 10.2 degree-days to complete a generation under laboratory conditions. This information along with the field samplings made it possible to calculate that H. variegata completes four generations per season in the alfalfa crop (Medicago sativa L.).