Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T12:26:07.921Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evaluating a semi-synthetic diet for rearing the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2011

H.Y. Al-Ayedh
H.Y. Al-Ayedh*
Affiliation:
Natural Resources and Environmental Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, PO Box 6086, Riyadh11442, Saudi Arabia
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Experiments were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of a semi-synthetic diet developed from locally available ingredients in Saudi Arabia for the laboratory rearing of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. The diet was developed based on existing literature, in addition to screening for a number of ingredients from locally available materials. Maize flour, wheat flour, shredded date palm frond tissue and distilled water were chosen as the final ingredients for the diet. Red palm weevils were successfully reared on this semi-synthetic diet and these ingredients were found capable of supporting larval development. However, larval weight decreased on this diet. The larval growth rate on the semi-synthetic diet was comparable to the standard growth rate achieved on date palm. One additional larval instar was observed on the diet. No significant differences were observed in the tested behavioural parameters between females fed the semi-synthetic diet versus those fed the natural diet. In conclusion, red palm weevils can be successfully reared on this semi-synthetic diet, and further optimization of it is warranted.

Keywords

semi-synthetic dietred palm weevilRPWlaboratory rearing
Type
Research Paper
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 31 , Issue 1-2 , June 2011 , pp. 20 - 28
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2011

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

Al-Ayedh, H. (2008) Evaluation of date palm cultivars for rearing the red date palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The Florida Entomologist 91, 353–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Al-Ayedh, H. Y. and Rasool, K. G. (2009) Sex ratio and the role of mild relative humidity in mating behaviour of red date palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) gamma-irradiated adults. Journal of Applied Entomolology 134, 157–162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aldhafer, H. M., Alahmadi, A. Z. and Alsuhaibani, A. M. (1998) Biological studies on the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, King Saud University Agriculture Research Center Research Bulletin no. 75, 30 pp.Google Scholar
Awmack, C. S. and Leather, S. R. (2002) Host plant quality and fecundity in herbivorous insects. Annual Review of Entomology 47, 817–844.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beavers, J. B. (1982) Biology of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) reared on an artificial diet. The Florida Entomologist 65, 263–269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bhattacharya, A. K. and Pant, N. C. (1968) Dietary efficiency of natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic diets with special reference to qualitative amino acid requirements of the Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). Journal of Stored Products Research 4, 249–257.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blossey, B. and Hunt, T. R. (1999) Rearing methods for Galerucella calmariensis and G. pusilla (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), biological control agents of Lythrum salicaria (Lythraceae). Journal of Economic Entomology 92, 325–334.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blossey, B., Eberts, D., Morrison, E. and Hunt, T. R. (2000) Mass rearing of the weevil Hylobius transversovittatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), biological control agent of Lythrum salicaria, on semi-artificial diet. Journal of Economic Entmology 93, 1644–1656.Google Scholar
Brich, (1978).Google Scholar
Briscoe, D. A., Malpica, J. M., Robertson, A., Smith, G. J., Frankham, R., Banks, R. G. and Barker, J. S. F. (1992) Rapid loss of genetic variation in large captive populations of Drosophila flies: implications for the genetic management of captive populations. Conservation Biology 6, 416–425.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calvo, D. and Molina, J. M. (2005) Fecundity–body size relationship and other reproductive aspects of Streblote panda (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae). Annals of Entomolgical Society of America 98, 191–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Camara, M. D. (1997) Predator responses to sequestered plant toxins in buckeye caterpillars: are tritrophic interactions locally variable? Journal of Chemical Ecology 23, 2093–2106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cohen, A. C. (1992) Using a systematic approach to develop artificial diets for predators, pp. 77–91. In Advances in Insect Rearing for Research and Pest Management (Edited by Anderson, T. E. and Leppla, N. C.). Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado.Google Scholar
Cohen, A. C. (1999) Artificial media for rearing entomophages comprising sticky, cooked whole egg (continuation in part) U.S. Patent 5,945, 271 issued August 31, 1999.Google Scholar
Cohen, A. C. (2003) Insect Diets: Science and Technology. CRC Press, Boca Rotan, Florida. 344 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cohen, A. C. and Smith, L. (1998) Novel concept in artificial diet for Chrysoperla rufilabris: the efficacy of solid diet. Biological Control 13, 49–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dodds, K. A., Clancy, K. M., Leyva, K. J., Greenberg, D. and Price, P. W. (1996) Effects of douglas-fir foliage age class on western spruce budworm oviposition choice and larval performance. Great Basin Naturalist 56, 135–141.Google Scholar
El-Ezaby, F. (1997) A biological in-vitro study on the red Indian date palm weevil. Arab Journal of Plant Protection 15, 84–87.Google Scholar
Epsky, N. D. and Capinera, J. L. (1994) Influence of herbivore diet on the pathogenesis of Steinernema carpocapsae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae). Environmental Entomology 23, 487–491.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ghosh, C. C. (1912) Life history of indian insects – III. The rhinoceros beetle Oryctes rhinoceros and the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. Memoirs of the Department of Agriculture. India II 10, 205–217.Google Scholar
Giblin-Davis, R. M., Gerber, K. and Griffith, R. (1989) Laboratory rearing of Rhynchophorus cruentatus and R. palmarum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The Florida Entomologist 72, 480–488.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hajek, A. E. and Renwick, J. A. A. (1993) Incorporation of Quercus rubra foliage into artificial diet alters development of a fungal pathogen of Lymantria dispar. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 68, 265–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hofstetter, R. W. and Raffa, K. F. (1997) Effects of host diet on the orientation, development, and subsequent generations of the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera, Lymantriidae) egg parasitoid Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Environmental Entomology 26, 1276–1282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hopper, K. R., Roush, R. T. and Powell, W. (1993) Management of genetics of biological control introductions. Annual Review of Entomology 38, 27–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
House, H. L. (1974) Nutrition, pp. 1–62. In The Physiology of Insects (Edited by Rockstein, M.), Vol. 5. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Hunt, D. W. A., Lintereur, G. and Raffa, K. F. (1992) Rearing method for Hylobius radicis and H. pales (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 85, 1873–1877.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hunter, M. D. and McNeil, J. N. (1997) Host-plant quality influences diapause and voltinism in a polyphagous insect herbivore. Ecology 74, 977–986.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaakeh, W. (2005) Longevity, fecundity, and fertility of the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on natural and artificial diets. The Emirates Journal of Agricultural Sciences 17, 23–33.Google Scholar
Kluge, R. I. and Caldwell, P. M. (1992) Microsporidian diseases and biological weed control agents: to release or not to release? Biocontrol News and Information 13, 43–47.Google Scholar
Krishnakumar, R. and Maheshwari, P. (2004) Preliminary studies of gamma irradiation on the development of red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliv.). Insect Environment 9, 175–177.Google Scholar
Leather, S. R. (1990) Life history traits of insect herbivores in relation to host quality, pp. 175–207. In Insect–plant interactions (Edited by Bernays, E.). Vol V. Boca Raton, Florida, CRC Press.Google Scholar
Mau, R. F. L. and Lai, P. -Y. (1988) Evaluation of two formulations of a laboratory diet for the orchid weevil Orchidophilus aterrimus (Waterhouse). Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomology Society 28, 205–211.Google Scholar
Nirula, K. K. (1956) Investigation on the pest of coconut palm. Part. IV. Rhynchophorus ferrugineus F. Indian Coconut Journal 9, 229–247.Google Scholar
Quintela, E. D., Jun, F. and McCoy, C. W. (1998) Development of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on artificial and citrus root substrates. Journal of Economic Entomology 91, 1173–1179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rahalkar, G. W., Harwalkar, M. R. and Rananavare, H. D. (1972) Development of red date palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. Indian Journal of Entomology 34, 213–215.Google Scholar
Rahalkar, G. W., Harwalkar, M. R., Rananavare, H. D., Tamhankar, A. J. and Shanthram, K. (1985) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, pp. 279–286. In Handbook of Insect Rearing (Edited by Singh, P. and Moore, R. F.). Vol. 1. Elsevier, New York.Google Scholar
Rahalkar, G. W., Tamhankar, A. J. and Shanthram, K. (1978) An artificial diet for rearing red date palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. Journal of Plantation Crops 6, 61–64.Google Scholar
Rananavare, H. D., Shantarum, K., Harwalkar, M. R. and Rahalkar, G. W. (1975) Methods for laboratory rearing of red date palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. Journal of Plantation Crops 3, 65–67.Google Scholar
Rodrigues, D. and Moreira, G. R. P. (2004) Seasonal variation in larval host plants and consequences for Heliconius erato (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) adult body size. Australian Ecology 29, 437–445.Google Scholar
Roush, R. T. (1990) Genetic variation in natural enemies: critical issues for colonization practices in biological control, pp. 263–288. In Critical Issues in Biological Control (Edited by Mackauer, M., Ehler, L. E. and Rollands, J.). Intercept, London.Google Scholar
Roush, R. T. and Hopper, K. R. (1995) Use of single family lines to preserve genetic variation in laboratory colonies. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 88, 713–717.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salama, H. S. and Abdul-Razek, A. S. (2002) Development of the red date palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) on natural and synthetic diets. Anzeiger für Schädlingskunde 75, 137–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, P. (1977) Artificial Diets for Insects, Mites, and Spiders. IFI/Plenum Data Company, New York.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tammaru, T. (1998) Determination of adult size in a folivorous moth: constraints at instar level? Ecological Entomology 23, 80–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trudel, R., LaVallee, R., Bauce, E., Cabana, J. and Guertin, C. (1994) Variations in ground white pine bark concentrations in artificial diet in relation to egg laying, feeding, and mortality of Pissodes strobi (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 87, 96–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vanderbilt, C. F., Robin, M., Giblin-Davis, R. M. and Weissling, T. J. (1998) Mating behavior and sexual response to aggregation pheromone of Rhynchophorus cruentatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The Florida Entomologist 81, 351–360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Viado, G. B. and Bigornia, A. E. (1949) A biological study of the Asiatic palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), (Curculionidae, Coleoptera). The Philippine Agriculturist 33, 1–27.Google Scholar
Wan, M. T. K. (1970) The bionomics and control of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (P. maculipennis Curt.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo). Sarawak Museum Journal 18, 377–378.Google Scholar
Weissling, T. J. and Giblin-Davis, R. M. (1995) Oligidic diets for culture of Rhynchophorus cruentatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The Florida Entomologist 78, 225–234.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wheeler, G. S. and Zahniser, J. (2001) Artificial diet and rearing methods for the Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) biological control agent Oxyops vitiosa (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The Florida Entomologist 84, 439–441.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, J. R. (1963) The reproduction and fecundity of the sugarcane stalk borer, Plutella saccharipagus Baj. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Proceedings of the International Society of Sugarcane Technology 11, 611–625.Google Scholar
Williams, D. W. and Leppla, N. C. (1992) The future of augmentation of beneficial arthropods, pp. 87–102. In Selection Criteria and Ecological Consequences of Importing Natural Enemies (Edited by Kauffmann, W. C. and Nechols, J. R.). Thomas Say Publications in Entomology. Entomological Society of America, Lanham, Maryland.Google Scholar