Influence of food type on boll weevil pheromone production
| Problem: | Previous studies have indicated boll weevils produce little pheromone in response to boll feeding. Recent results in this laboratory indicated weevils initially fed squares maintained high levels of pheromone production when switched to bolls, but the levels of pheromone production by weevils fed bolls throughout have not been examined. |
| Objective: | Compare the age-dependency of pheromone production by boll weevils fed squares (5-7 mm diameter) with those fed small bolls (13-17 mm diameter) through the first 12 d of adult life |
| Approach: | Pheromone production studies will be followed by dissection to further examine associations of accessory gland classes with levels of pheromone production. |
Dale W. Spurgeon