Authors: VASO, VILLA E. J.; DICKENS, J. C.; McGOVERN, W. L.; BREWER, F. D.

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 81, Number 4, August 1988 , pp. 1102-1106(5)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

Abstract:

Addition of a vitamin A precursor, beta-carotene (160 mg/liter), to the standard diet used to mass-rear boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in photic responsiveness of the compound eye to a 38,000 lux whitelight stimulus. However, neither the competitiveness of irradiated insects reared on standard diet or the beta-carotene-supplemented diet (71 and 77%, respectively) nor the LT₅₀'s of the two groups (8.5 and 9.0 d, respectively) were significantly different. Irradiated weevils competed against a laboratory-reared native strain. Irradiated insects reared on the standard diet and then fed cotton squares had a progressive increase in photic responsiveness every 24 h to a level equal (after 72 h) to that of the carotenoid-supplemented group and a field collected group. Equivalent competitiveness and longevity of the two groups indicated that, under conditions that are similar to those used in our field test, the impaired vision of the weevils reared on standard diet was not an important factor in their competitiveness.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 1988-08-01

More about this publication?

• Journal of Economic Entomology is published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October, and December. The journal publishes articles on the economic significance of insects and is divided into the following sections: apiculture & social insects; arthropods in relation to plant disease; forum; insecticide resistance and resistance management; ecotoxicology; biological and microbial control; ecology and behavior; sampling and biostatistics; household and structural insects; medical entomology; molecular entomology; veterinary entomology; forest entomology; horticultural entomology; field and forage crops, and small grains; stored-product; commodity treatment and quarantine entomology; and plant resistance. In addition to research papers, Journal of Economic Entomology publishes Letters to the Editor, interpretive articles in a Forum section, Short Communications, Rapid Communications, and Book Reviews.
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