Rate of Oviposition and Effect of Crowding on Egg Cannibalism and Pre-adult Mortality in Martianus dermestoides Chevrolat(Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)

1) The life-history of Martianus dermestoides Chevrolat bred in rice bran was presented briefly at the laboratory conditions of 30℃ and 61-75 per cent R. H. 2) Sexual difference in the pupal genital appendage was illustrated. 3) Mean rate of oviposition (age-specific net fecundity) was shown graphically. 4) Cannibalism of eggs by a male adult was investigated at different egg densities. Cannibalism occured intermittently, a beetle continued to eat eggs for 1-4 days and ceased eating for 1 or 2 days. The number of both beetles and days observed to cannibalize increased with density of eggs introduced. As the egg density increased, the average number of eggs eaten per male per day also increased. 5) Crowding a of the male effected on the egg cannibalism. As male density increased the average number of eggs eaten per male per day and the cannibalism rate, the fraction of eggs eaten per beetle per day, both decreased rapidly. 6) Effect of crowding on pre-adult mortality was investigated initiating at various degrees of egg density. The beetle was markedly tolerable to overcrowding.