S. Sivasupramaniam et al., FACTORS AFFECTING THE WINTERTIME PHYSIOLOGY OF ANTHONOMUS-GRANDIS BOHEMAN IN ARIZONA, The Southwestern entomologist, 20(3), 1995, pp. 303-315
The wintertime physiology of the bell weevil, Anthonomus grandis Bohem
an, was evaluated under standard laboratory conditions using field col
lections from Laveen, Arizona, during the winter and spring of 1987-19
88. Collections from both pheromone traps and bells were used to asses
s sex ratio, survival, reproductive behavior and adult longevity. A si
gnificantly higher level of survival was obtained among bell-enclosed
weevils compared to that of trap-collected weevils. Unlike the weevils
collected from bells, a significant number of trap-collected weevils
were found to be reproductive. Upon subjecting weevils to three temper
ature/photoperiod regimens [25 degrees C, 14:10 (L:D); 20 degrees C, 1
2:12 (L:D); and 15 degrees C, 10:14 (L:D)], results indicated that hig
her temperature with longer light periods was most conducive to comple
tion of diapause and postdiapause development. On transferring sub-sam
ples to altered temperature and photoperiod regimens, temperature was
determined to be critical in terminating diapause. Longevity studies s
howed that 20 degrees C, 12:12 (L:D) photoperiod was optimal for survi
val of both fed and unfed weevils.