A Simple Method for Collecting Eggs of the West Indian Sweet Potato Weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

We developed an egg collecting container, which consists of an aluminum mesh and a plastic cup, for the West Indian sweet potato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus, and collected eggs over an 8 day period without supplying food. The eggs were collected effectively from the second to the fourth day after the insects were introduced into the containers (about 1.4 eggs per female per day). The hatchability of eggs collected by this method was approximately 95%. The change in daily egg laying by the present method is discussed based on egg development in the female ovaries. This is the first report of an egg collecting method for a weevil that does not require a food supply.