Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T20:06:37.135Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Population phenology of whitefringed weevil, Graphognathus leucoloma (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in pasture in a Mediterranean-climate region of Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. N. Matthiessen*
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Perth, Australia
*
CSIRO Division of Entomology, Private Bag, P.O., Wembley, W.A 6014, Australia

Abstract

In undisturbed annual pasture in a Mediterranean-climate region of Australia adults of the whitefringed weevil, Graphognathus leucoloma (Boheman), were present from summer to early winter (December–June), with upsurge in numbers of first instar larvae only occurring after the rains began in April. The G. leucoloma population was predominantly first instar larvae in high abundance throughout the winter period (May–August). Larval growth, with high mortality, occurred in the spring period (September–January). The survival of eggs during the dry summer when adults were most abundant, although only at times of unseasonal rainfall, indicated that low larval recruitment at that time resulted primarily from the absence of high-quality legume food essential for oogenesis. It was inferred that most larvae arose from heavy oviposition by the few adults present in autumn when rainfall germinated annual legumes. A steady year-round abundance of late-instar larvae indicated that not all individuals completed their development in the one year.

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anon. (1988) Climatic averages Australia. 532 pp. Canberra, Australian Government Publishing Service.Google Scholar
De Jager, J., Lategan, K. & Van der Westhuizen, M.C. (1989) Some aspects of the biology of the white-fringed beetle Graphognathus leucoloma (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in the lower Orange River irrigation area of South Africa. Phytophylactica 21, 259263.Google Scholar
East, R. (1977) Effects of pasture and forage crop species on longevity, fecundity, and oviposition rate of adult whitefringed weevils Graphognathus leucoloma (Boheman). New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture 5, 177181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
East, R. (1980) Sampling whitefringed weevil (Graphognathus leucoloma) populations. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 23, 581587.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gross, H.R. & Bartlett, F.J. (1972) Improved technique for collecting eggs of whitefringed beetles. Journal of Economic Entomology 65, 611612.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gross, H.R., Mitchell, J.A., Shaw, Z.A. & Padgett, G.R. (1972) Extended storage of eggs of whitefringed beetles. Journal of Economic Entomology 65, 731733.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harlan, D.P., Stewart, J.R. & Mitchell, J.A. (1970) A portable shaker for collecting larvae of the white-fringed beetle from soil. Journal of Economic Entomology 63, 10181019.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kain, W.M. & Atkinson, D.S. (1976) Population studies of Costelytra zealandica (White). II. A rapid mechanical extraction method suitable for intensive sampling of C. zealandica and other scarabaeids. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture 5, 391397.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Learmonths, S.E & Sproul, A.N. (1988) Pasture rotation – the main source of insect pest problems in Western Australian potato crops. pp. 163168in Stahle, P.P. (Ed.) Proceedings of the 5th Australasian Conference on Grassland Invertebrate Ecology, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Matthiessen, J.N. (1989) Sampling whitefringed weevil and African black beetle in the potato/pasture system in southwestern Australia. pp. 3335in Robertson, L.N. & Allsopp, P.G. (Eds) Proceedings of a soil-invertebrate workshop. 106 pp. Department of Primary Industries, Queensland.Google Scholar
Matthiessen, J.N. & Ridsdill-Smith, T.J. (1991) Populations of African black beetle, Heteronychus orator (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in a Mediterranean-climate area of Australia. Bulletin of Entomological Research 81, 8591.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ottens, R.J. & Todd, J.W. (1979) Effects of host plant on fecundity, longevity, and oviposition rate of whitefringed beetle. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 76, 837839.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sites, R.W. & Thorvilson, H.G. (1988) The first records of the whitefinged beetle, Graphognathus leucoloma (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in New Mexico and Texas. Florida Entomologist 71, 657659.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sutherst, R.W., Macqueen, A., Kelley, B.M., Stegeman, D.A., Asher, K.G. & Tozer, R.S. (1987) Mechanized extraction of arthropods from cattle dung. Bulletin of Entomological Research 77, 239246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tissot, A.N. (1938) The gross anatomy of the digestive and reproductive systems of Naupactus leucoloma Boh. (Curculionidae, Coleoptera). Florida Entomologist 21, 2027.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Young, H.C. & App, B.A. (1939) Biology of the white-fringed beetle (Naupactus leucoloma Boh.). 24 pp. USDA Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine E-464.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Young, H.C., App, B.A., Gill, J.B. & Hollingsworth, H.S. (1950). White-fringed beetles and how to combat them. Circular US Department of Agriculture No. 850, 15 pp.Google Scholar