Effect of temperature on oviposition and development of Sitophilus oryzae L. feeding on split pulses

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the Entomology Laboratory, Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Trichy in February to March 2014 to study the oviposition and development of Sitophilus oryzae L. under room and controlled conditions. Observations were made on oviposition rate, total number of eggs, adult emergence per 100 grains, egg to adult survival percentage, adult longevity, adult emergence period and reproductive potential. The oviposition rate per female (14.38 nos), total number of eggs (143.75 nos), adult emergence per 100 grains (69.00 nos), egg to adult survival percentage (50.89), female longevity (13.80 weeks), male longevity (9.80 weeks) and reproductive potential (48.50 nos),were higher in redgram under room temperature feeding by the respective population as compared to controlled conditions. In case of sorghum, all the above parameters were superior to redgram feeding by the respective population under room and controlled temperature conditions.