Abstract
The population structure of the chrysomelid, Ca/yptocepha/a marginipennis was examined in a Mexican lowland rain forest. This species is a monophagous beetle that feeds exclusively on leaves of the dioecious palm, Chamaedorea tepejilote, making specific ruptures along the leaf veins, which are easily recognized in the field. In order to know the population structure, survivorship and migration rates of this insect, a capture-recapture study was done during 24 consecutive days. Two hundred nineteen beetles were marked in total and, on average, 72 % were recaptured. Daily recaptures varied from 31.4 % to 93.1 %. The estimated mean number of beetles per day was 927.7 individuals, and the estimated mean of survivorship per day was 0.88. These results together with previous studies on the effects of this herbivore on the survivorship and reproduction of C. tepejilote, support that C. marginipennis beetles have a close relationshiop with this palm at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico.
