%0 Research note
%T Effect of diet and seed pretreatment on the biology of Bruchidius uberatus (Coleoptera, Bruchidae)
%A El Atta, Hashim Ali
%D 2000
%J Silva Fennica
%V 34
%N 4
%R doi:10.14214/sf.624
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/624
%X Diet significantly (P < 0.0001) affected fecundity of Bruchidius  uberatus Fahraeus. Provision of 1% sugar solution increased fecundity  from 15 eggs/female to 47. Furthermore, sugar solution prolonged  significantly the oviposition period of B. uberatus from one week to two  weeks. Diet also significantly (P < 0.0001) increased adult  longevity. Mean adult longevity recorded was 3, 7 and 13 days in  control, water and sugar treatments, respectively. Seed pretreatment had  a highly significant impact on the various developmental stages of B.  uberatus. Maximum egg hatchability occurred in non-husked Acacia  nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del. seeds (83%), moderate in de-husked seeds  (74%) and least in seeds presoaked in concentrated sulphuric acid (42%).  The frequency of larvae that developed successfully into pupae was  greatest in non-husked seeds (72%), nevertheless in de-husked and acid  pretreated seeds, absolutely no larvae developed into pupae and hence  the adult stage was not reached in these two treatments. Thus,  de-husking and acid pretreatment of A. nilotica seeds is highly  recommended.