Irradiation does not affect field dispersal ability in the West Indian sweetpotato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of irradiation on the dispersal ability of males and females of the flightless West Indian sweetpotato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a major sweet potato pest, was examined in the field using mark–release–recapture techniques. To evaluate the dispersal ability of the weevil, we released 7 619 weevils in two replicates (July and August 2007). Each replicate lasted 5 days from release to sampling and consisted of one weevil release and two weevil samplings. Thirty‐two traps were placed in lines corresponding to eight compass directions and in four distance classes (8, 12, 16, and 20 m) in each replicate. We captured 709 (9.3%) weevils in the two replicates. Weevils dispersed at least 20 m from the release point in 2 days, regardless of sex or irradiation. Dispersal was strongly affected by wind direction, and in both replicates most weevils were recaptured in upwind directions. The mean dispersal distance for non‐irradiated weevils was about 11 m per 2 days. Although there were some differences between sexes in recapture rate and dispersal distance, there was no consistent difference between irradiated and non‐irradiated weevils in dispersal distance. We conclude that irradiation does not affect the dispersal ability of flightless E. postfasciatus in the field.