Diel and ontogenetic patterns of oviposition in the sweetpotato weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Ovipositional patterns of adult female sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers), were examined in four laboratory experiments. In addition, survivorship of adult female weevils was assessed in one experiment. The life span of adult females averaged 75.8 +/- 7.8 d, during which time females oviposited 122.0 +/- 10.6 eggs. Preoviposition, oviposition, and postoviposition periods were 4.2 +/- 0.2, 64.0 +/- 6.5, and 7.6 4- 2.2 d, respectively. Maximum levels of oviposition occurred between 5 and 20 d after adult emergence from storage roots. Photoperiod affected fecundity; most eggs (about 75%) were laid during the scotophase, although some oviposition (about 25%) occurred during the photophase; oviposition occurred throughout the entire photoperiod. Disturbance of females during daylight reduced their levels of oviposition in daylight