Abstract
The feeding and oviposition behavior of boll weevil in new cotton cultivars is essential for an adequate management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the vertical distribution of squares punctured for feeding and oviposition of the pest in the cultivars NuOPAL, DeltaOPAL, FMT-701, FMX-910 and FMX-993, and record the most and least preferred times of feeding and oviposition. The number of squares used for boll weevil feeding and oviposition were evaluated weekly in three parts of plant canopy. It was observed that, regardless the cultivar, A. grandis preferred to lay eggs in squares located in the upper part and feed on squares in the middle and upper parts. The boll weevil preferred to feed on cultivar FMT-701 in the beginning of the period of cotton flowering and fruiting, and the cultivars NuOPAL, DeltaOPAL, FMX-910 and FMX-993 throughout the whole period of flowering and fruiting. A. grandis preferred to lay eggs on cultivars NuOPAL, FMT-701 and FMX-993 at the beginning and end of flowering and fruiting of plants, while the cultivars DeltaOPAL and FMX-910 are used for oviposition throughout the period of flowering and fruiting.
Highlights
IntroductionThe cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman 1843 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the major pests of cotton, causing damage to plants in production fields of South America (RIBEIRO et al, 2010)
The cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman 1843 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the major pests of cotton, causing damage to plants in production fields of South America (RIBEIRO et al, 2010).The damage caused by the pest results from the use of cotton flower and fruit structures for oviposition of adults and feeding of both larvae and adults of A. grandis
The main purpose of studying the vertical distribution of pests in agricultural crops is that this knowledge can accelerate and increase the reliability of insect sampling in a given agricultural area (FERNANDES et al, 2006)
Summary
The cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman 1843 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the major pests of cotton, causing damage to plants in production fields of South America (RIBEIRO et al, 2010). The damage caused by the pest results from the use of cotton flower and fruit structures for oviposition of adults and feeding of both larvae and adults of A. grandis. The boll weevil prefers to feed and lay eggs on developed squares, with a diameter of 5.5 to 8 mm (SHOWLER, 2005). It was observed that fecundity and oviposition of the weevil females are higher after feeding on these developed buds (SHOWLER, 2004). The main purpose of studying the vertical distribution of pests in agricultural crops is that this knowledge can accelerate and increase the reliability of insect sampling in a given agricultural area (FERNANDES et al, 2006).
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