Observations on the Flight, Wing Movements and Wing Structure of Male Priacma serrata (Lee.) (Coleoptera: Cupedidae)

Abstract

During May, 1957 near Lumby, B.C., there was a reoccurrence of the gregarious flight behaviour of Priacma serrata males observed the preceding year (Atkins, 1957). Once more these beetles exhibited a strong attraction to “Perfex” laundry bleach, which is an aqueous solution containing 5-5.5 per cent sodium hypochlorite and 4.3 per cent sodium chlorate. They swarmed around the bleach-treated articles every fair day from the 5th of May until the first week of June. This situation presented an ideal opportunity to study certain aspects of the behaviour of this strange insect and accordingly observations were made on the beetles' flight both in the field and under laboratory conditions.