01593nas a2200157   4500008004100000020001400041245018100055210006900236260000800305300001200313490000800325520092700333100002101260700001901281856013501300       2010                        eng d  a0931-204800aSex ratio and the role of mild relative humidity in mating behaviour of red date palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) gamma-irradiated adults0 aSex ratio and the role of mild relative humidity in mating behav  cMar  a157-1620 v1343 aThe influence of gamma radiation on the mating behaviour of the red date palm weevil (RDPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), and the efficacy of sterile insect technique (SIT) under different levels of relative humidity (RH) were studied. No adverse effects of gamma radiation were observed on the mating behaviour parameters of the RDPW, such as mate recognition time, mating duration, mating frequency within a 30-min period and duration between consecutive matings. However, the weevils were sexually stimulated during aggregation. RH significantly affected egg laying as well as egg hatching. Significantly lower egg laying and hatching were recorded at 25% RH than at higher humidity levels, suggesting that low humidity conditions are better for successful SIT manipulations in the field. Lifespan of irradiated RDPW males was significantly shorter than that of un-irradiated controls, irrespective of RH level.1 aAl-Ayedh, H., Y.1 aRasool, K., G.  uhttps://weevil.myspecies.info/sex-ratio-and-role-mild-relative-humidity-mating-behaviour-red-date-palm-weevil-rhynchophorus-ferrug01783nas a2200169   4500008004100000020001400041245013300055210006900188260001300257300001200270490000700282520111900289653003001408100002101438700001901459856013501478       2011                        eng d  a0015-404000aRearing Optimization of Red Palm Weevil: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Date Palm: Phoenix dactylifera0 aRearing Optimization of Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineu  cDecember  a756-7600 v943 aRed Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (RPW), is the most deleterious pest of date palm Phoenix dactylifera, spreading rapidly in date palm growing countries around the globe. To facilitate behavioral and biological studies on this important pest, a study to optimize rearing procedures was conducted at King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. RPW pairs were introduced into date palm bolts and subsequent RPW populations were harvested at the pupal stage. The populations of RPW resulting from different numbers of introduced RPW pairs and the use of mated vs. virgin RPW pairs were compared for different date palm cultivars and sizes of the bolts. Results indicated that RPW can successfully be reared on date palm bolts. Subsequent population was increased with increases in numbers of introduced RPW pairs. Date palm cultivars significantly influenced the subsequent RPW population. Thickness of the date palm bolt wase positively correlated with the subsequent RPW population. Introducing mated vs. virgin RPW pairs did not show any significant effect on subsequent RPW population.10aRhynchophorus ferrugineus1 aAldawood, A., S.1 aRasool, K., G.  uhttps://weevil.myspecies.info/rearing-optimization-red-palm-weevil-rhynchophorus-ferrugineus-coleoptera-curculionidae-date-palm-ph