Effect of host plants on development and reproduction of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The development, survivorship and reproduction of red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, reared on five ornamental palm slices, were studied in the laboratory at constant temperature of 26 degrees C. The developmental time of R. ferrugineus was 68.8 days on Washington palm (Washingtonia filifera), 74.1 days on Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis), 82.1 days on Chusan palm (Trachycarpus fortunei), 85.4 days on pindo palm (Butia capitata) and 90.6 days on silver date palm (Phoenix sylvestris), respectively, and the developmental time on silver date palm was significantly longer than that on the other plants. The survival of immature R. ferrugineus ranged from 25.0 to 38.3%. Most mature larvae began to pupate at eighth-instar on Canary Island date palm and Washington palm, while on Chusan palm, Pindo palm and silver date palm, most of them began to pupate at ninth-instar. The mean lifetime fecundity of R. ferrugineus on Canary Island date palm, Chusan palm, Pindo palm, Washington palm and silver date palm was 267.8, 134.0, 109.8, 216.0, and 131.4 eggs, respectively, and lifetime fecundity on Canary Island date palm and Washington palm was significantly greater than that on the other plants. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r(m)), net reproductive rate (R-0) and mean generation time (T) were 0.038, 78.3 and 115.0 days on Canary Island date palm, 0.028, 33.1 and 125.5 days on Chusan palm, 0.029, 40.9 and 128.2 days on Pindo palm, 0.041, 64.0, 101.4 days on Washington palm, and 0.025, 30.6, 135.6 days on silver date palm, respectively. Based on population growth parameters, it is concluded that Canary Island date palm and Washington palm were the more suitable host plants and silver date palm was the least suitable host plant for R. ferrugineus.