Effects of Starvation on Longevity, Lipid Content, Dry Body Weight and Mating of Adult West-Indian Sweet Potato Weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus (FAIRMAIRE) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

<Author> Keiji YASUDA
<Year> 1996
<Journal> Jpn. J. Appl. Entomol. Zool.
<Volume> 40
<Issue> 4
<Pages> 273-278
<Notes> Japanese

Adults of the West-Indian Sweet potato Weevil (WSPW), Euscepes postfasciatus, were reared with and without food and water. The mean longevity at 25 deg C and 90% RH, 12L12D of WSPW adults reared without food and water was 16.9 days for females and 15.4 days for males. When only water was supplied, adult longevity was extended to 25.4 days for females and 24.3 days for males. The lipid content of WSPW supplied with only water decreased more rapidly than beetles supplied with both food and water. Since starved adults drink more water, their fresh body weight is almost equal to that of fed adults. Adults reared without food did not mate and showed no ovarian development after emergence.