Evaluation of date palm cultivars for rearing the red date palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Publication Type:Journal Article
:2008
Authors:H. Al-Ayedh
Journal:Florida Entomologist
Volume:91
Pagination:353-358
Date Published:September
Type of Article:Article
:0015-4040
:Rhynchophorus ferrugineus
:

Development of red date palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) was evaluated on 4 popular cultivars of date palm, viz., 'Khalas', 'Sukkary', 'Khasab', and 'Sillaj' for 2 consecutive generations. The weevils reared on 'Sukkary' showed significantly better growth expressed in most parameters such as length, width and weight at larval, pupal and adult stages. Significantly greater numbers of eggs were laid on cv. 'Sukkary' as compared to the other 3 cultivars. This might be because of higher sugar content of cv. 'Sukkary'. Adult lifespan was significantly longer on cv. 'Khasab'. Though more cocoons were harvested from 'Khalas', frequency of adult emergence was better on 'Sukkary'. Male to female ratio was similar on all date palm cultivars.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith