Environmental Entomology (1991) 20, 545-550

Richard K. Jansson and Adrian G.B. Hunsberger (1991)
Diel and ontogenetic patterns of oviposition in the sweetpotato weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Environmental Entomology 20 (2), 545-550
Abstract: Ovipositional patterns of adult female sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers), were examined in four laboratory experiments. In addition, survivorship of adult female weevils was assessed in one experiment. The life span of adult females averaged 75.8 ± 7.8 d, during which time females oviposited 122.0 ± 10.6 eggs. Preoviposition, oviposition, and postoviposition periods were 4.2 ± 0.2, 64.0 ± 6.5, and 7.6 ± 2.2 d, respectively. Maximum levels of oviposition occurred between 5 and 20 d after adult emergence from storage roots. Photoperiod affected fecundity; most eggs (about 75%) were laid during the scotophase, although some oviposition (about 25%) occurred during the photophase; oviposition occurred throughout the entire photoperiod. Disturbance of females during daylight reduced their levels of oviposition in daylight.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Richard K. Jansson

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Cylas formicarius