Research Institute for Subtropics
Fruit Fly Research in Japan

 

Flight and Locomotion Activity of the Sweetpotato Weevil (Coleoptera: Brentidae) in Relation to Adult Age, Mating Status, and Starvation

<Author> SEIICHI MORIYA ; SATOSHI HIROYOSHI
<Year> 1998
<Journal> J. Econ. Entomol.
<Volume> 91
<Issue> 2
<Pages> 439-443
<Notes> English

The flight and walking performance of Cylas formicarius (F.) adults were evaluated with respect to their age, mating status, and the degree of starvation by using a flight mill and an actograph system. Males showed a much higher flight ability than females in all ages tested between 0 and 42 d old after spontaneous exiting from the sweetpotato root. Locomotion activity of the male was also higher than that of the female for 0- to 28-d-old adults, but the difference was not as large as that of flight activity. Except for the effects of a 3-d starvation period on locomotion, mating status and starvation with only water for 1-3 d had little affect on flight or locomotion ability. No distinct signs of migratory behavior of adults were detected. Females seemed to disperse mainly by walking because of their extremely low flight ability.


Research Institute for Subtropics