Developmental Stages of African Sweetpotato Weevil Cylas puncticollis Boheman (Coleoptera: Brentidae) in Sudan

Abstract

The biology of the developmental stages of the weevil, Cylas puncticollis Boheman a pest of sweet potato roots was carried out under laboratory conditions at ambient room condition and relative humidity (RH) and at a constant temperature of 30°C and 65% RH. Average pre-oviposition period under ambient room conditions was 4.33 ± 1.23 days. The incubation period lasted 2-4 and 3 days under room conditions and the constant temperature and RH, respectively. The larval period lasted 9.63-12.00 and 12.56-14.57 days under room conditions and the constant temperature and RH, respectively. The pupal period ranged from 3.0 to 3.29 days under room conditions and from 3.4 to 4.0 days under the constant temperature and RH. The sex ratio was 1:0.9. The pre-oviposition rate was 3.90 ± 1.67 eggs per female per day under room ambient conditions and under a constant temperature of 30°C and 65% RH a highly significant difference was recorded on the total developmental stages duration; also a significant difference was registered between rearing under room ambient conditions and the constant temperature and RH conditions.