Reproductive Behavior of the Sugarcane Weevil,Sphenophorus Levis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) In Laboratory

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the reproductive behavior of the sugarcane weevil Sphenophorus levis. For this insect, the mating occurs at any hour of the day and multiple mating can occur. Fourteen to thirty five days-old couples showed the highest mating frequencies 76 and 88%, respectively. The mean duration of the first mating was 5.75 ± 4.22 h, and the total mating time fluctuated between 1 to 17 h. The pre-oviposition period of 14 to 35 days-old females ranged from 5.52 ± 4.53 to 10.90 ± 5.37 days. The number of eggs per female was 0.25 to 7.80 with viability between 33 and 63%. S. levis 85 and 210 days-old females were receptive to the males (66%), oviposited on average 4.50 to 1.09 eggs, with viability between 49 and 79%. This behavioral study concluded that S. levis 21 to 35 days-old adults presented better receptivity to mating and reproduction. The current work provides important information for the understanding of S. levis biology and population management in the field.