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Immigration of Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) and Scapanes australis grossepunctatus Sternb. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae) into plantings of young coconut palms in New Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

G. O. Bedford
G. O. Bedford*
Affiliation:
UNDP/FAO Rhinoceros Beetle Project, c/o Koronivia Research Station, Nausori, Fiji
*
* Insect Ecologist in the former UNDP/FAO/South Pacific Commission Regional Project for research on the control of the coconut palm rhinoceros beetle. Also associated with Biology Department, University of Papua-New Guinea.
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Abstract

In 1968–70 adults of Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) and Scapanes australis grossepunctatus Sternb. were counted and removed weekly from two one-acre plots in separate plantings of 3–5-year-old coconuts in the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain. For O. rhinoceros the immigration rate (average 3 adults/acre (60 palms) 4 weeks) showed no annual cycle or overall trend with time but was reduced by rain; the beetles occurred singly on the palms, but certain palms were more frequently attacked than would be expected by chance; the sex ratio (♂/♀) averaged 0·91, five out of nine females being mated and one having mature eggs. For S. a. grossepunctatus the immigration rate (average 4 adults / acre 4 weeks) decreased with time but was not affected by rain; females were usually accompanied by males, the female being deeper in the feeding hole, and 92% were mated, 15% with mature eggs; the high ♂/♀ sex ratio (3·69), differing from that in reared material, is attributed to females spending much time searching for ovi-position sites.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 65 , Issue 1 , March 1975 , pp. 109 - 116
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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References

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