How long is the resting phase of the adult mango stone weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (Fab.)?
Abraham Verghese
Author Affiliation: Department of Entomology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesarghatta Lake P.O., Bangalore 560 089, India.
Insect Environment 4 : 142-143
Abstract : S. mangiferae is said to `hibernate' as adults from July/August to next fruit setting in February/March. The length of the inactive stage was studied by releasing 25 adult weevils into a cage containing a small piece of branch with loose bark (27 July 1998). Within 48 h, all the weevils crowded together under the bark and entered a resting phase. The weevils remained under the bark until 6 October 1998. From 8 October onwards, 2-9 beetles moved within the cage for 30-90 min, indicating that some of the weevils move about during their long resting phase.