EFFECT OF FOOD STUFFS AND SOME ECOLOGICAL FACTORS ON DIFFERENT BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE ADULT RED PALM WEEVIL, RHYNCHOPHORUS FERRUGINEUS (OLIVER) (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

Shokry, I. F.; Ahmad, F. A.; Gad, M. I. A.

doi:10.12816/0034707

EFFECT OF FOOD STUFFS AND SOME ECOLOGICAL FACTORS ON DIFFERENT BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE ADULT RED PALM WEEVIL, RHYNCHOPHORUS FERRUGINEUS (OLIVER) (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

Document Type : Original Research Papers

Authors

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

10.12816/0034707

Abstract

The results obtained showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in weevil male and female longevity as a result of feeding either on palm core, palm leaf base, sugarcane pieces or artificial diet. Also, non-significant differences between weevil male and female longevity under the same ecological, biological and food supply conditions were obtained. Data obtained revealed that there were some differences between pre-oviposition periods recorded in different food stuff treatment, while feeding on pear fruits showed the shortest pre oviposition period (6.64±0.67 days), while feeding on apple, sugarcane and corn stem showed the longest pre-oviposition period (11 days). High significant (P<0.001) differences in the oviposition periods were obtained when feeding on different non-host plants as pear, apple, pineapple fruits and corn stem compared with that of date palm core. The post-oviposition periods varied according to food supplied; the shortest post-oviposition period was recorded for females fed on corn stems (1.06±0.07), while the longest post-oviposition period was recorded for females fed on pear fruit (4.69±0.06 days). Females fed on palm leaf base, deposited the lowest number of eggs (88.5±5.6 eggs/female), while the greatest number of eggs was deposited by females fed on pear fruit (2.81.33±3.53 eggs/female). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in adult emergence percentage except when feeding females on 30% molasses concentration artificial diet, but a significant change in adult emergence percentage that reached (99.33±2.33 %) from (89.12±0.07%) in case of 10% molasses concentration in the artificial diet. The weevil longevity was directly proportional to the photoperiod. Photoperiod had no effect on fecundity. The ratio F/M was 1.5:1 at temperature of 25ºc and reached 1:1 at the temperature of 40ºC.

Keywords