Mortality of the Larval Root Weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Simulated Flooding
Abstract
Larvae of the weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus L. can cause substantial damage to sugarcane and citrus. To test the feasibility of managing Diaprepes populations by flooding canefields for extended periods of time, larval mortalities were recorded after submerging larvae under water in soil filled trays at temperatures from 18 to 27°C for up to 5 weeks. Mean mortality exceeded 90% by 3 weeks of submergence at 24 and 27°C and after 5 weeks at 21°C, but was only 46% after 5 weeks at 18°C. A model was derived by multiple regression analysis, describing the response of mortality to time and temperature. The model accounted for 84% of the variation in larval mortality. Levels of O 2 and pH were monitored in selected trays during the experiment; only pH correlated significantly with larval mortality but contributed only 20% of total variation.Downloads
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