Clasification and biology Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Clasification and biology Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Systematic snout beetles according to Kalshoven (1981) are as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropod

Class: Insect

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Curculionidae

Genus: Rhynchophorus

Species: Rhynchophorus ferrugineus O.

The life cycle of the muzzle beetle varies depending on its habitat and environmental conditions. A long dry season with a small amount of food will slow the development of larvae and adult sizes that are smaller than normal size. The appropriate larval development temperature is 27 ° C-29 ° C with 85-95% relative humidity. One life cycle of this pest from eggs to adulthood is about 6-9 months (Riostone, 2010).

Egg Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Female snout beetles lay eggs in trash cans, rotting leaves, manure and rotten coconut stems. The number of eggs is 30-70 eggs or more. After about 12 days the eggs will hatch (Pracaya, 2009). These insect eggs are white, oval, then first round with a diameter of approximately 3 mm. These eggs are placed by female insects in a good and safe place (for example in a weathered coconut tree). After two weeks these eggs will hatch. The average fecundity of a female insect ranges from 49 to 61 eggs, while in Australia around 51 eggs, can even reach 70 eggs. Egg stages range from 11-13 days, averaging 12 days (Kalshoven, 1981).

Larvae Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Larval period is 2.5-6 months (depending on temperature and humidity). After adults the larvae will stop eating, then they will look for shelter that is cold and moist to prepare to form pupae (Rukmana, 1997).

In research on physiological sensors such as temperature, R. ferrugineus larvae are attracted to temperatures of 27-29 ºC and avoid lower temperatures. Larvae behavior is dominated by light factors, moving larvae are influenced by light that appears suddenly. In the natural environment, if the larvae are placed on the surface of the breeding medium the larvae will quickly move down away from light, the larvae move following negative phototaxis, possibly this is an adaptation to avoid predators. Larvae are attracted to low humidity (85-95%) rather than high humidity. This mechanism can work singly or in combination to guide larvae out of environmental conditions that are not favorable for growth or development (Riostone, 2010).

Larvae have no eyes and no legs. The rear body is bigger than the front. Yellowish red head. Very short hairy body. The larvae hatch in stem wounds. Adult Lara measures 6 cm and 3 cm wide. Larval stage up to 3-4 months. The larvae will compose, making sturdy from fiber / midrib with a size of 6.5 cm and a width of 3.5 cm. (Emir, 2012)

Pupa Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

When they form pupae, the larvae leave the garbage and move to the edge or bottom of the garbage pile and the larvae prefer to form cocoon in moist soil, at a depth of about 30 cm. Larvae can die, if the conditions for forming pupae are not appropriate (Kalshoven, 1981). 3-4 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. Two weeks of living in a cocoon and exchanging forms into an adult form for 3 weeks and still living in a cocoon. The last phase is colat red and parts of the body have shown the body of an adult beetle. (Emir, 2012)

Imago Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

This beetle is red on its back. Its length can reach ± ​​3 cm. Beetles that appear will begin to fly at dusk or at night to the crown of coconut leaves and stem tips (Pracaya, 2009). Beetles stay in the tunnel ± 1 week. If there is enough food, the distance is close. When lacking food, the flight distance can reach ± ​​10 km (Rukmana, 1997). The mouth is proboscis shaped. The difference, the male beetle snout straight and hairy while the female beetle is slightly bent down and bare. Adult beetle size 3-4 cm. Black. Clever flying and active during the day. Imago stage 3-6 months. Eggs are placed by female beetles in stem injuries or Oryctes scrapings. The number of eggs up to 500 eggs. Length of 2.5 mm, width of 1 mm. The eggs hatch after 3 days. (Emir, 2012) Female adult beetles can live up to 274 days, while male adult beetles can live up to 192 days (PPKS, 2010).