Foraging ability of maize weevil in several varieties under dark and light conditions

Abstract

Laboratory research to investigate the ability of maize weevil to find food source in the dark and light condition had been conducted in laboratory of pests and plan diseases of Indonesian Cereals Research Institute, Maros, South Sulawesi. This research was arranged in complete random design with three replications. There were six maize varieties put into small glasses and placed in circle within big jar and then invested with 100 heterogenous adult maize weevils in each jar. As a control, an empty glass was put in the center of glasses circle within the jar. Observation and calculation on living and dead maize weevils on each glass and outside glass was conducted with intervals of 24, 48 and 72 after maize weevil infestation. This research was performed in the light and dark condition. Result of the research showed that maize weevil ability to find their food sources was not determined by the light and dark. In addition, from this research, it was found that there were influence of corn variety as food resources, but this factor of variety as food resources needs to be examined further. The implication of this study are about the maize varieties attracted the weevil.