STUDIES ON THE BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF THE WEST INDIAN SWEET POTATO WEEVIL, EUSCEPES POSTFASCIATUS (FAIRMAIRE) (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)
2017
Alleyne, E. H.
The West Indian sweet potato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) is the major insect pest of sweet potatoes in Barbados. All immature stages occur within the tuber or stem. Eggs are laid singly in punctures just below the epidermis, larvae move inward as they feed and the pupae are produced within larval chambers. The developmental period from egg to adult takes 29 days. Adults, however, can survive for up to 252 days and females lay an average of approximately 179 eggs. The adults are winged but flightless and dispersal is mainly by propagative cuttings (slips) and perhaps mechanical means. Control of the insect by insecticides has been most unsatisfactory, and varietal resistance seems to offer better control possibilities.
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