Reproductive Status of Overwintering Rice Water Weevils

Based on atrophy of ovaries and hypertrophy of fat bodies, it is concluded that the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, overwintered in diapause in Louisiana. Weevils collected during Oct.–May and exposed to simulated summer conditions showed differences in duration of preoviposition and oviposition periods and in fecundity. More than 50% of weevils collected on or after the 3rd wk of Feb. oviposited, whereas less than 45% collected prior to this period oviposited. It is concluded that weevils were in diapause of variable intensity. About 1/7 of the overwintering females were mated and some contained resorbed eggs.