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Studies on the oviposition of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) in rice and paddy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Michael H. Breese
Michael H. Breese
Affiliation:
Regional Research Centre, Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad, W.I.
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Extract

No reduction in the amount of feeding or in the oviposition rate was observed when females of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) were supplied with whole rather than with cut wheat grains. Although there was a marked reduction in feeding when females were supplied with cut grains of paddy and a further reduction when they were supplied with cut grains of hulled rice, the oviposition rate observed on these two types of grain was only slightly lower than on wheat.

The difference in the oviposition rates observed on wheat and rice may be due to a difference in the nutritional values of these grains or it is possible that the harder texture of the rice kernel limits the feeding rate of the female sufficiently to affect the rate of egg production.

Eggs are laid preferably in crevices and on rough surfaces rather than on smooth, and these preferences often overweigh the tendency shown by the female to avoid laying on the grain on which it is feeding.

The results of experiments on egg distribution in paddy are in agreement with Crombie's (1942) observation that females of R. dominica tend to lay all the eggs for a given day in one short period of intense ovipositing activity. Thus, although suitable oviposition sites may be numerous, if they are individually able to accommodate all the eggs laid on one day, eggs will usually be concentrated in fewer oviposition sites than are available.

Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 53 , Issue 4 , January 1963 , pp. 621 - 637
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1963

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References

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