Some factors affecting oviposition and development of Callosobruchus subinnotatus (Pic.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)
1993
Mbata, G.N. (Biologische Bundesanstalt fuer Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Berlin (Germany). Inst. fuer Vorratsschutz)
Some factors affecting oviposition and development of Callosobruchus subinnotatus were investigated. Females were found to prefer healthy seeds to infested bambarra seeds for egg-laying. When offered only infested seeds, the number of eggs laid did not differ from that laid when only healthy seeds were offered. Females were able to distinguish seeds having lower numbers of emergence holes and preferred these to seeds with many emergence holes for egg deposition. Offering egg-laden seeds to females inhibited oviposition and this inhibition progressively increased as the egg density of seeds increased. The number of seeds offered the gravid female for oviposition affected the number of eggs laid. Offering few seeds inhibited oviposition and up to 20 seeds were required for a female to achieve its optimal egg production. Delays up to 3 days in offering mated females seeds for oviposition inhibited oviposition and reduced the egg output of the female. Development was faster and heavier offspring were produced when larvae were reared on healthy seeds than on infested seeds. There was high mortality of developing larvae when the bruchids were bred on previously infested seeds. High larval density of up to five larvae per seed prolonged developmental period and caused the production of miniature individuals which laid very few eggs. These miniature individuals were not 'active' or 'flight' forms
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