Sunday, December 9, 2001 - 3:36 PM
0156

Measuring boll weevil reproductive potential with differing densities of oviposition sites

Sasha M. Greenberg, SARC USDA-ARS, Int Farm & Natural Resources Research Unit, 2413 E. Highway 83, Weslaco, TX, Thomas W. Sappington, SARC USDAARS, Int Farm & Natural Resources Research Unit, 2413 E. Highway 83, Weslaco, TX, Dale Spurgeon, APMR ARS USDA, 2771 F and B Rd, College Station, TX, and Mamoudou Setamou, Texas A&M University, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 2415 E. Highway 83, Weslaco, TX.

We determined reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase, and limiting frequency of reproduction when boll weevil females were provided with 1, 5, 10, 15, or 20 cotton squares for oviposition. The highest reproductive potential of females was observed when the ratio of females to density of oviposition sites was 1:10. The data could be described using a Type 2 functional response curve. The results of this study have provided information necessary for developing a standardized assay for boll weevil fecundity and improved our understanding of boll weevil population dynamics and oviposition behavior in the field. +AKs-

Species 1: Coleoptera Curculionidae Anthonomus grandis grandis (boll weevil)
Keywords: cotton

The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA