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THE BIOLOGY OF CRYPTOLESTES UGANDAE STEEL & HOWE (COLEOPTERA, CUCUJIDAE), A PEST OF STORED PRODUCTS IN AFRICA
Author(s) -
LEFKOVITCH L. P.
Publication year - 1957
Publication title -
proceedings of the zoological society of london
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0370-2774
DOI - 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1957.tb00335.x
Subject(s) - pest analysis , biology , zoology , ecology , botany
SUMMARY1 Cryptolestes ugandae is a pest of cereals and groundnuts and is at present confined to East and West Africa. 2 To assess the possibility of its becoming a serious pest, the rates of development, mortality and reproduction have been studied in the laboratory at various constant temperatures and humidities. 3 Development was most rapid at 30°C., 90 per cent r.h. and developmental mortality was least at 25°C.‐27·5°C., 90 per cent r.h. 4 Males on emergence were heavier than females under most conditions and their weight was more affected by temperature than that of females, being heaviest at intermediate temperatures and high humidities. 5 Crowding of larvae caused a marked increase in their developmental period. 6 The intrinsic rates of increase were calculated from the experimental results; at its quickest a population could double its numbers in seven‐and‐a‐half days. 7 Because of its relatively high humidity requirements, C. ugandae is unlikely to became as widespread a pest as C. minutus or C. ferrugineus.