Photosensitivity and spectral response of boll weevils reared on natural host and artificial larval diets supplemented with carotenoids
1987
Dickens, J.C. (Boll Weevil Research Lab., Mississippi (USA)) | Agee, H.R.
Photosensitivity and spectral responsiveness of adult male boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boh. (Col., Curculionidae), reared on its host plant, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), the artificial larval diet used in mass rearing and the artificial larval diet supplemented with a carotenoid vitamin A percursor were determined by an electrophysiological technique, the electroretinogram (ERG). In general, the shape of the ERG was similar for each group of weevils. The number of quanta needed to elicit a criterion response of 0.2 m V was significantly greater for weevils reared on the artificial larval diet than for those insects reared on their natural host plant. Addition of the vitamin A precursors, beta-carotene or retinyl palmitate, to the artificial diet decreased the number of quanta necessary for a criterion response. Responsiveness of artificial diet-reared weevils to monochromatic light of 480 nm to 600 nm at 3 stimulus intensities was significantly lower for each wavelength than for weevils reared on their host plant. ERGs of weevils reared on the artificial diet and beta-carotene (160 mg/l) were not significantly different from weevils reared on their natural host plant at any wavelength or stimulus intensity tested. ERGs elicted by a white light stimulus approximating ambient illuminances during peak boll weevil field activity were significantly larger for weevils reared on a carotenoid-supplemented artificial larval diet than those reared on the unsupplemented diet. The ERG results correlate well with behavioral responses in the field of weevils reared in the laboratory on the artificial diet
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