Reproductive maturity of the female West Indian sweet potato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera : Curculionidae)

Abstract

Prefeeding period, ovarian development, relation of mating receptivity to age, and preoviposition period of the female Euscepes postfasciatus were determined under laboratory conditions of 25±1°C, 70-85% RH and 14L-10D. The prefeeding period averaged 3.8±0.9 (mean±SD) days and ranged between 3 and 7 days. Ninety percent of 12-day-old females had mature eggs. The mating receptivity of females was related to their age. Eighty seven to 100% of 9- to 15-day-old females accepted copulation attempts by males. The preoviposition period averaged 11.1±l.2 (mean±SD) days and ranged between 9 and 13 days.